Michael Porter Jr. was once the third option on a title-winning Denver Nuggets team. Now in Brooklyn, he has become a source of hope. Some Nets fans want him traded in February, but moving him would only hurt their push for wins. He has averaged over 27 points in his last 17 games, all while playing through pain.

Look closely at his left foot, and the brace stands out. It is an ankle-foot orthosis, widely known as an AFO. These braces are usually designed to help older patients recover from strokes or nerve damage. Yet Porter wears it while competing against the best athletes in the world.

“I’m still not fully pain-free,” Porter admitted.

The brace challenges him every second. It restricts his natural movement and tightens his rhythm, yet it also sharpens how he defends quick forwards. More importantly, it stabilizes him, prevents injury, and allows proper flexion and extension in his foot. Without it, running would likely end in stumbles. The AFO supports dorsiflexion and keeps him in control.

At first, wearing it felt overwhelming. Porter feared the brace because it limited his freedom and reflected what he had lost. Over time, that feeling shifted. Now, before every game, gratitude replaces hesitation. He thanks God for its existence, knowing that without it, “My career would’ve been over.”

But why does Michael Porter Jr. wear the AFO?

Reasons behind Michael Porter Jr.’s left foot brace

March 24, 2017, changed everything. Michael Porter Jr. chose Missouri, choosing family, comfort, and belief. He joined his father on the coaching staff and teamed up with his younger brother Jontay, who fast-tracked his college path. It felt like a prodigy’s homecoming. However, destiny had other plans.

The dream season stood tall, shimmering, and dangerously fragile from the very start. Then came the opener against Iowa State, and with it, the fall.

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A lower back injury cut his freshman season short almost instantly. Surgery followed. A microdiscectomy on his L3 and L4 discs became the only road forward. While the season slipped away, hope did not. By February 2018, he was cleared to practice again, with league voices urging courage if his body allowed it.

March brought action and measured faith. Porter returned during the SEC tournament quarterfinals, then appeared in the national tournament loss to Florida State. He came off the bench both times, carefully protected, carefully watched. Still, the message was clear. The future waited elsewhere.

On March 27, he stepped away from college basketball, trusting his health and his talent, and declared for the 2018 NBA Draft. Since then, the ankle-foot orthosis has proven to be the guiding light for Porter Jr. So, what does it do?

Function of the brace and ongoing impact

An ankle foot orthosis wraps the lower leg and foot, guiding motion and supporting balance. It helps conditions like foot drop, stroke, and cerebral palsy by lifting the foot, correcting alignment, and controlling ankle movement. Walking becomes smoother, and stability returns as control replaces uncertainty with purpose.

The orthosis clears the foot during motion and steadies the ankle when weight hits the floor. It manages dorsiflexion and plantarflexion with care, eases pain, tames spasticity, and protects weak muscles. It even prevents long-term deformities.

Meanwhile, different designs exist. From flexible posterior leaf styles to rigid and hinged builds. Including carbon fiber versions that return energy.

At the same time, care becomes a ritual and respect. Despite rehab, pain lingers, and movement stays limited. The brace reminds him of injury and survival, burden and blessing together. Moreover, Michael Porter Jr. believes he is the first NBA player to wear it at this level, trusting that it saved his career.

This story begins and ends with defiance. Michael Porter Jr. is turning pain into propulsion and doubt into direction. With the AFO as his compass, he is redefining setbacks, faith, and fearless return. With an average of 25.6 ppg this season, he’s defying all odds. Playing through limits and trusting the process, MPJ’s resilience seems unbreakable.