Having appeared in 158 games in his last two seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. joins the Nets with durability now part of his identity, a far cry from the health concerns that once defined him.

Two back surgeries cost Porter nearly all of his lone collegiate season at Missouri, dropped his stock in the 2018 NBA Draft and sidelined him for his entire rookie year in Denver. A third procedure in 2021, after he appeared in just nine games, along with other minor setbacks, only deepened concerns about his long-term durability in the NBA.

After everything Porter has endured with injuries, there are days when he questions how much longer he wants to play.

“Basketball is my passion,” Porter said. “I want to play as long as I can. I think that it’s just easier in my head to b

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