If you watch a Denver Nuggets game and keep your eyes glued to the floor—specifically Michael Porter Jr.’s left leg—you’ll see something most NBA stars don’t have. It’s a slim, black, plastic-looking contraption tucked under his sock. People search for the michael porter jr knee brace thinking he’s protecting a blown-out ACL or a shaky patella.
The truth is way weirder. It isn't a knee brace at all.
Porter Jr. is out there playing at an All-Star level while wearing an Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO). Basically, it’s a brace designed for stroke patients. It’s there because his left foot literally doesn't work right. This isn’t about a "tweaked" joint; it’s about a nerve in his back that decided to stop talking to his foot years ago.
The "Knee Brace" That’s Actually a Lifeline
You’ve probably seen the highlights of MPJ rising up for a jumper. He looks smooth. He looks like a 6'10" version of Kevin Durant. But under that uniform, he’s battling a condition called foot drop.
After his first major back surgery in 2017—a microdiscectomy on his L3-L4 discs—things went sideways. The peroneal nerve, which is responsible for pulling your foot up (dorsiflexion), got damaged. When that nerve is compromised, your foot just hangs there like a dead weight.
Imagine trying to sprint, jump, and slide defensively against guys like Jayson Tatum when you can't even lift your toes off the ground. That’s what he deals with. If he didn't wear that "knee brace" (the AFO), he would quite literally trip over his own feet every time he tried to run. The brace holds his foot in a neutral position so it doesn't drag on the hardwood.
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Honestly, it’s a miracle he’s even in the league. Scouts in 2018 were calling his medical report "the worst they'd ever seen." Most people with this level of nerve damage are lucky to walk without a limp. He’s averaging nearly 20 points a game in the most athletic league on earth.
Why Do People Think It’s a Knee Support?
The confusion makes sense. In the NBA, when you see a bulky sleeve or a strap, it’s almost always a knee issue. Guys like Kawhi Leonard or Lonzo Ball have made knee maintenance a constant talking point.
But MPJ’s hardware is different:
- The Richie Dynamic AFO: This is likely what he’s using. It’s a specialized version of the bulky braces used in rehab clinics.
- The Carbon Fiber Plate: Most of these braces have a thin, incredibly strong plate that sits inside the shoe, under the insole.
- The Calf Wrap: There’s a piece that wraps around his lower leg, just below the knee, to provide the leverage needed to keep the foot up.
Because that wrap sits so high on the calf, from a distance, it looks like a low-profile michael porter jr knee brace.
He’s been open about how much he hated it at first. In interviews, he’s mentioned that it felt restrictive. It limits that "springy" feeling most players rely on. But over time, he’s adapted his entire game. He doesn’t have the same twitchy explosion he had in high school, but he’s compensated with elite footwork and one of the fastest shooting releases in basketball history.
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The Reality of Playing With Nerve Damage
Nerve recovery is a slow, frustrating game of millimeters. Nerves regrow at a rate of about an inch a month—if they regrow at all. Porter has had three back surgeries now. Every time a surgeon goes back into that lumbar region, there’s a risk of more damage.
There was a brief moment in the 2023 playoffs where fans noticed he took the brace off for a few minutes. The internet went wild. People thought the nerve was finally healed. But he put it right back on. Kinda tells you everything you need to know. It’s a permanent part of his toolkit now.
Does it actually help his performance?
Not in the way a "performance enhancer" would. It’s purely functional.
- Stability: It keeps his ankle from rolling since he lacks the muscular control to stabilize it himself.
- Safety: It prevents "toe drag," which is the leading cause of falls for people with foot drop.
- Confidence: Knowing the foot isn't going to "give out" allows him to play aggressively.
He’s basically playing with a bionic leg. While other players are worried about their "bounce," he’s just making sure his foot stays attached to his brain’s commands.
What You Can Learn From MPJ’s Setup
If you’re a basketball player dealing with nerve issues or chronic instability, looking at the michael porter jr knee brace—or rather, his AFO—is actually pretty educational. You don't always need a rigid, hinges-and-metal knee brace to fix a "leg" problem. Sometimes the issue is neurological.
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For most "normal" athletes, a high-quality compression sleeve like a Bauerfeind GenuTrain or a DonJoy hinged brace is plenty for standard knee support. But MPJ is the extreme case study in "playing through it." He’s proven that even with a "drop foot" and a back that’s been under the knife three times, you can still be an elite contributor on a championship-caliber team.
If you’re looking for a similar level of support because of your own injury, you should probably talk to a podiatrist or an orthopedist about an AFO rather than just buying a generic knee sleeve. The technology has come a long way. The carbon fiber models they have now are light enough that you can actually play high-level sports in them, just like Porter does every night for the Nuggets.
If you're tracking your own recovery, pay attention to "dorsiflexion" (the ability to point your toes to the ceiling). If that feels weak after a back injury, a standard knee brace won't do a thing for you. You need to look into the world of orthotics that Porter has made famous.
The next step is to evaluate your own gait. If you find yourself catching your toe on the ground while running or walking, consult a physical therapist about a nerve conduction study. It might be time to stop looking for a knee sleeve and start looking for a specialized brace that actually addresses the root cause of your mobility struggle.