Michael Porter Jr. relishes his return from injury, grateful to Denver Nuggets for their trust: "My confidence in my game doesn't leave me"

Michael Porter Jr. will officially enter his fifth NBA season on Wednesday night. The Denver Nuggets forward has been in the league since 2018, but he hasn't had a chance to play an entire season yet.

Despite appearing in only nine games last season, Porter Jr. is still confident and believes he can be a difference maker. The forward appeared in all five preseason games for the Nuggets and was happy to be back on the court.

"It doesn’t leave me. My confidence in my game doesn’t leave me," Michael Porter Jr. said in a Q&A with Marc J. Spears.

"But confidence in movement, I’m still working through all that. But I’m good. I feel really good," he added.

In the preseason, Michael Porter Jr. was one of the best players on the Denver Nuggets. He had one 20-point game and a 17-point game on 7-for-11 shooting against the Golden State Warriors.

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Michael Porter Jr. is ready for his return

Porter Jr. hasn't played a regular-season game since November 6, 2021. This was when he left the game against the Houston Rockets and didn't return.

The Denver Nuggets star has dealt with back issues, which was why he was sidelined after only nine games in the season. Fortunately, he is ready for his return and will start in the season opener against the Utah Jazz.

Michael Porter Jr. was amazing in the preseason (Image via Getty Images)

In his first four seasons in the league, Michael Porter Jr. has played in only 125 games. This comes down to an average of around 31 games per season, which is simply not enough for the Nuggets.

When asked about the season opener, here is what the 6'10" forward said:

"There will be gratefulness. Appreciation," Michael Porter Jr. said. "For me, I need to look at the positives and be patient with my progress through everything."

Porter Jr. was fantastic in the 2020-21 season. Many Nuggets and NBA fans believed he would improve even further. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by injuries.

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Denver Nuggets could have a deep playoff run

Nikola Jokic is one of the best players in the league. The two-time MVP has done a great job for the Denver Nuggets in the past few years, but he will need to get some help from his teammates.

Jamal Murray, who missed the entire last season, is also coming off an injury. He will return in the season opener against the Jazz, and many Nuggets fans are looking forward to him.

Murray and Porter Jr. will both return on Wednesday night (Image via Getty Images)

The Nuggets could have a deep playoff run if everyone stays healthy. In his last healthy season, Murray averaged 21.2 points per game and was also one of the best scorers in the NBA Bubble.

Michael Porter Jr. averaged 19 points and 7.3 rebounds in the 2020-21 season. He was also one of the most efficient scorers in the league, converting 54.2% of his shots and shooting 44.5% from beyond-the-arc.

With this trio and great supporting players, the Nuggets could be one of the top teams in the West. Considering that they play against the Jazz tonight, they will, most likely, open their season with a victory.