Once considered the draft’s top prospect until back surgery wiped out most of his one and only season at Missouri, the 6-10 forward slipped to No. 14 in Thursday’s draft in New York City, going to the Denver Nuggets with the final lottery pick in the first round.
Porter, hobbled by a back injury most of his only college season, became the sixth-highest NBA draft pick from Mizzou and the team’s first first-round selection since DeMarre Carroll in 2009.
“Man, all I can say is this is a blessing,” Porter told ESPN after shaking hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver on the stage at the Barclays Center.