Kevin Porter Jr. Media Availability | 11.19.25

Kevin Porter Jr. Media Availability | 11.19.25

I mean, a lot’s happened since we saw you last. Um, so I guess we’ll just kind of start at at the beginning. I mean, couldn’t probably couldn’t have asked for a better opening nine minutes of the season. Um, before stepping on Bobby’s foot. So, I guess just take us back to there and just what that felt, all of that, what that kind of felt like for you then knowing you you might have been out for a little bit then. Uh, yeah. Um, you know, just going through it. I guess a short a short little story or you know a connection of it is just you know you you work and you got training camp, you got preseason, you got the offseason. So there’s a lot of work going into that first game and um you know of course you want to make it out every game but I was fortunate enough to at least get eight minutes. You know have some fun out there but then unfortunately you know what happened and then um so that’s that’s pretty much it. just, you know, all the work that’s carries into, you know, that very first game, you know, then to not be able to finish, that’s kind of, you know, it sucked. But I knew my guys, um, you know, hold it down and I know they’re going to hold it down while I’m gone and rehabing right now. So, I think the first time we first see back on the floor feels like you’re getting close to something else. first of all like how did it happen like and then on top of just like I guess how did it feel that it happened? Um yeah, we were still coming so we was rehab and coming back from the sprained ankle and uh you know we had a couple last check boxes um to give it a go and um you know the last box was live play and uh contact and I don’t remember I don’t remember the moment it happened um cuz I was moving really good. And I felt really good. Um kind of just after when my body calmed down, I kind of felt my knee um lingering and um there was like this little thing um that I’ve never seen that was kind of popping out and I was like uh so um you know we got MRI just precautions and then found out that it was that. So that definitely was a bummer. But um I think the the best thing you know that I have is you know a great organization. I have great great players you know I have a great you know household and a great family. So all those things together has kept me, you know, above water and um, you know, I know I’m going to be back. So that also, um, knowing that, you know, there’s opportunity to come play this year is is definitely helpful. Said you went through some stuff today and you said your energy was better than it was two weeks ago. I guess how does it sort of feel this whole time? Uh, close. Yeah. Um, this was my first surgery ever. So um 2 weeks um Monday that was when uh you know I woke up and everything like that. Couldn’t walk. Um I was on crutches for the first time. So of course you know I’m human so my energy is going to be a little a little um low. But um you know being back being able to walk being able to you know sleep regular um just live by you know my daily routines um again is definitely uplifting. then being able to, you know, do my regular, you know, weights and my regular conditioning. Like all those things were building up factors that I had to wait and be patient the first two weeks and um that was the hardest time. So now that I’m back in office, you know, I’m back on the court. I’m doing little things at a time. Um you know, it’s just it’s great. It’s great to be around energy, too. So kind of individual drills on the floor right now. Say it again. What are you doing able to do on the floor? Just kind of Oh, yeah. just, you know, stationary shots, um, moving shots. Um, I did I did a lot of moving today. Um, today was the best day, um, I would say, um, as far as movement and, um, cardio and things like that. But I think now I’m at the place where I’m trying to, you know, um, get my body back active. Um, being down like that definitely, you know, I’m I don’t have my my endurance. Um, so I’m trying to get that back right and ramp up and keep the swelling down. So those are the the main things that we’re paying attention to right now. Um, but it’s been good. The progression been going good. Um, how well first of all, did you was there like a choice to be made? Like could you have not had surgery? Nah. Yeah, I had I had to get surgery. Um Um, it was I don’t know what it was. It was some flipped or whatever it was. Um, but they went in there and they fixed it and um I’m feeling better. Um like I said like just being able to sleep you know regular and you know everything slowly getting back to just a daily routine and normal some normaly has definitely helped um the mental and being back in office like I said is the most tremendous thing out of everything. Um being away from team man it’s a little it’s a little down not being with your gang but now I’m back with the gang. Was there um so obviously it happens you’re told you have surgery you never had that before but then you’re told you you’ll be able to come back in like weeks as opposed so what was that like sort of emotionally mentally to kind of go from a thing like that where you’ve never had a knee but then also it’s not maybe as serious as as it could have been. Um, you know, I’m one of those guys. I grew up like I I don’t like the doctors like doctors, surgeries, dentists, like all those things kind of um, you know, I get anxiety around it. So, I definitely when I first heard I I need a surgery, you know, just to just instinctly I’m like, “Oh man, like surgery don’t sound too good.” And then uh you know talked to talked to doc made sure like the procedures and the you know progression of things weren’t as you know weren’t as bad which I had a very easy um as the docs would say very easy surgery. Um I think any surgery is hard but we just going to say that. Um but it was a good it was a good um assurance for me going into the surgery knowing that you don’t know like you got you’re going to be back but you know it’s going to be a work in progress but you will be able to play this season. And I think that was the main factor for me. Um being able to come back and knowing that I can come back relatively, you know, sooner rather than later. Um you see what’s going around the league right now. Like it’s a lot of great stars, a lot of great players that aren’t able to play this year. We got one now. Like I mean maybe maybe is, but you know TP just went down with something serious. So like there’s a lot of injuries that’s going on and um I just had to count my blessings. You know it’s a blessing in disguise that I’m able to come back from a surgery. Like that’s it’s crazy to me you know. So, I just take take count the blessings, man. I think the season we kind of talked about the young guard with you and what was it kind of like for you to see one of your guys pop early in the season? Yes. Um, no. Yeah, me and Ry we sit next to each other so we be talking a lot and I just try to get in his air. you know, I had the luxury being, you know, I think I was 20, 20 or 21. Um, being able to start on NBA team and have those minutes, have those reps, and um, I just keep telling them like, you’re going to experience everything right now. Um, you got to be that, you got to be the guy that controls, you got to be the guy that, you know, you got to and then you got to still be our best defender. like it’s it’s hard um you know to be in that type of position when you know you kind of just threw it you know throwing in the fire with injuries and things that happen but he’s been handling it well. Um he’s always been a student of the game even before I was out like he’s always came up to me last year um seeing what I see the lobs and everything like that. So Rio, he’s he’s going in a steady tread up way, you know, because of who he is. Um, how he studies and then, you know, everything everything that is being asked from him, you know, is implied into the next game. So, like he’s a he’s a fast learner and um we need him to to to be like this, especially when I’m back cuz I’m in, he’s in. Like, we got two people um that can really control the game and and be cool when Yanni’s out. And um we already know when we full healthy. So, we dangerous when we fully healthy. I was just say, how exciting is it to then think about? I’m excited, man. I think we got a full team of dogs and um you know we we haven’t had the start um you know that we you know our record doesn’t reflect the team that we feel like we are but at the end of the day um we’ve been having unfortunate things happen me TP Shu Yangan has been dealing with some lingering things like we got guys and things that’s been happening so that’s fine like our record’s fine um as long as we believe um you know from day one keep that same belief from day one we going to be all Okay. Um, having never gone through this, Yiannis talk about he’s 30 now. He’s been through a bunch of different things. He’s like, “Now I I handle injuries in rehab different because I’ve This is your first one. What is the What do you think is going to be the hardest part here in the next week or two as your body’s feeling better of not pushing it, you know what I mean?” And like, oh, I mean, I I’ll clear this like I haven’t had surgery, but I’ve had serious injuries before. So, like for instance, like I’ve been out for two months with a very severe contusion. Um, I’ve been out for 20 games with a with a toe joint. Like, I’ve been out before, so I’m not new to rehabbing. Um, I know what I got to do. I know my body um to a tea, and I know exactly how it’s supposed to be when it’s time to go.

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