Michael Porter Jr. Adjusts to New Challenge in Brooklyn

LAS VEGAS – For Michael Porter Jr., transitioning from Denver to Brooklyn is set to be a significant shift, both culturally and in terms of competition.

He’s gone from being a secondary player to one of the primary figures on a rebuilding team.

Having spent much of his time in the Midwest, moving to a bustling city is a big change for him.

And while he may not draw too much attention to it, there’s definitely a learning curve ahead.

“It was a whirlwind,” Porter admitted.

His response was as calm as expected.

“I flipped the script in my head pretty quickly. Honestly, I’m not really an overly anxious person. So when the news hit, I was like, ‘Well, I’m traded,’ and then I took a nap. But I’m genuinely excited to be here. I love Denver, I enjoyed my time there, but I’m looking forward to this new chapter.”

This chapter is quite different from the last. Growing up in Missouri, Porter finds himself stepping out of his comfort zone.

“I’ve always said New York is my least favorite NBA city,” he chuckled. “It’s because I grew up in the Midwest—there’s so much more space and no traffic. So, it’s going to be an adjustment. But I think it’ll be great for me.”

There are also athletic adjustments to consider. After spending his entire NBA career with the Nuggets, Porter worked with head coach Jordi Fernandez, who was his assistant during his first four years. A back injury disrupted his 2021-22 season, but he bounced back to help Denver win the championship the following year.

As a third option behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Porter is now on a $79 million, two-year contract and holds the coveted 2032 unprotected pick. He recognizes the need to evolve his game during this restructuring phase.

“When you play with such a talented team, everyone has to sacrifice,” he said. “That’s just how it goes on a championship team… For me, I averaged about 19 points last year as a third option, which was around 18.2. I still think there’s more in me. I haven’t hit my peak yet. I want to grow, expand my game, and see what more I can do.”

Porter is possibly the only established scorer on the current roster, aside from Cam Thomas, who’s now a restricted free agent. This puts more responsibility on the 6-foot-10 forward to demonstrate his scoring ability outside of Jokic’s influence.

Over the last three seasons, he has averaged 17.4 points with decent shooting splits. However, without Jokic in the picture, those numbers trend downward.

As someone adept at catch-and-shoot scenarios, he knows that self-creation is an area for improvement.

“It’s about exploring the game and really working on aspects that make you better. Being a successful NBA player means honing skills during the season and practicing shots that come up in games,” Porter stated. “I believe my daily preparation is shifting compared to my usual routine. I hope that translates to success on the court.”

“I expect I’ll be doing more self-creation and be in more ISO situations. Jordi has already shared some creative strategies to help me find comfortable spots on the floor. It’s an ongoing conversation, and I’m excited to see where this leads. On opening night, I’ll be ready for a heavy role.”