Michael Porter Jr. thinks year on sidelines helped him adapt to NBA

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. got a redshirt year in the NBA thanks to a severe back injury, but he thinks that will help him in the long term.

Porter, who is preparing to play in the NBA Summer League, thinks he’ll have a “huge advantage” thanks to his time spent observing last season instead of playing.

“It’s a huge advantage,” Porter said, via Mike Singer of the Denver Post. “Just being on the bench, watching them play, seeing where I’m going to get my shots in the offense, and just learning the NBA game. It’s a lot different than college, spacing, and everything.”

Ben Simmons won Rookie of the Year after sitting out his first NBA season, and the Nuggets are hoping this could bring Porter similar success. He appears to be where he needs to be physically, and barring any setbacks, he’ll be a factor for them next season.