Michael Porter Jr.
Michael Porter Jr. is an American professional basketball player who plays as a small forward for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] Born on June 29, 1998, in Columbia, Missouri, he was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft after a standout high school career and a brief college stint at the University of Missouri.[2] Porter overcame significant back injuries early in his professional career to become a key contributor for the Nuggets, including winning an NBA championship in 2023, before being traded to the Nets along with an unprotected 2032 first-round pick in exchange for Cameron Johnson in July 2025.[3][4] Raised in a basketball-oriented family—his father, Michael Porter Sr., is a former college coach and his older brother Jontay Porter is also an NBA player—Porter developed his skills from a young age in Missouri before the family relocated to Seattle, Washington, during his high school years.[3] At Nathan Hale High School, he led the team to Washington 3A state championships in 2016 and 2017, earning national recognition as a five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American.[5] His high school performance showcased elite scoring and athleticism, averaging over 36 points per game in his senior year.[6] Porter committed to the University of Missouri, where his father served as an assistant coach, but his freshman season was limited to just three games due to a hip injury requiring surgery.[3] In those appearances, he averaged 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, demonstrating his potential as a versatile forward before declaring for the NBA draft.[3] Despite the injury concerns, his pre-draft workouts and high school tape convinced scouts of his upside as a scorer and rebounder.[2] Entering the NBA with the Nuggets, Porter missed his entire rookie season (2018–19) recovering from spinal surgery to address chronic back issues.[3] He made his debut in the 2019–20 season, quickly establishing himself as an efficient three-point shooter and secondary scorer alongside Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, with career averages of 16.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over 355 regular-season games (as of November 2025).[1][5] His breakout came in the 2020–21 season, where he averaged 19.0 points per game, and he played a pivotal role in the Nuggets' 2023 NBA Finals run, averaging 13.0 points in the playoffs despite a calf injury.[5] In the 2023–24 season, he appeared in a career-high 81 games, starting all of them and posting 16.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting 48.4% from the field.[3] The trade to Brooklyn marked a new chapter, positioning him as a primary option on a rebuilding Nets roster amid the team's early struggles in the 2025–26 season.[4][7]Early years
Family background
Michael Porter Jr. was born on June 29, 1998, in Indianapolis, Indiana.[5] His family relocated to Columbia, Missouri, around 2010 when his father joined the University of Missouri's women's basketball staff as director of operations.[8] This move rooted the family in a basketball-centric environment, aligning with their deep ties to the sport.[9] Porter Jr.'s parents both have extensive basketball backgrounds that profoundly influenced his upbringing. His father, Michael Porter Sr., played college basketball at the University of New Orleans, graduating in 1989, and later coached professionally with Athletes in Action while serving as a high school coach.[10] His mother, Lisa Porter, was a standout player at the University of Iowa, where she was a two-time team captain and two-time All-Big Ten selection after averaging 58.7 points per game in high school at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.[11] Lisa also coached high school basketball and played professionally overseas.[10] He is one of eight siblings in a highly athletic family, with five brothers and three sisters all involved in basketball. His siblings include brothers Jontay Porter (a former NBA player), Coban Porter, Jevon Porter, and Izaak Porter, and sisters Bri Porter, Cierra Porter, and Jayda Porter.[12] The Porter household emphasized sports development, with the children initially homeschooled by their mother to allow flexible training schedules.[13] Porter Jr. began basketball training at age 3 under his father's guidance, who focused on building character alongside skills without excessive pressure.[10] This early, family-driven approach fostered a competitive yet supportive atmosphere, where sports were a central bonding activity for the siblings.[11]High school career
Michael Porter Jr. was homeschooled for much of his early education, allowing intensive focus on basketball development under his parents' guidance, before enrolling at Father Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia, Missouri, for his freshman through junior years.[8] As a junior in the 2015–16 season at Tolton, Porter averaged 28.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, guiding the team to a 26–3 record and the Missouri Class 3 state championship, the school's first boys' basketball title.[14] In May 2016, following his father Michael Porter Sr.'s appointment as an assistant coach for the University of Washington men's basketball team, the family relocated to Seattle, prompting Porter to transfer to Nathan Hale High School for his senior season.[15][16] During the 2016–17 season at Nathan Hale under coach Brandon Roy, Porter delivered dominant performances, averaging 36.2 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.2 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game while leading the Raiders to an undefeated 29–0 record and the Washington Class 3A state championship.[17][14][18] His scoring prowess and versatility earned him statewide accolades, including Washington Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Washington Boys Basketball Player of the Year.[19][18] Nationally, Porter's senior campaign solidified his status as a premier prospect; he was selected as the 2017 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year and participated in the McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds to earn MVP honors for the West team in a 109–107 victory.[17][6][20] ESPN ranked him the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2017.[6]College career
Commitment to Missouri
Michael Porter Jr. entered the 2017 recruiting class as one of the nation's top prospects, earning a five-star rating and ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit by ESPN while sitting at No. 2 according to 247Sports.[21][22] His recruitment drew interest from several major programs, including Kansas, Indiana, and Washington, with the latter gaining an early edge when his father, Michael Porter Sr., joined the Huskies' staff as an assistant coach in May 2016, leading to Porter Jr.'s initial verbal commitment to Washington in July 2016.[23][24] Family ties to Missouri, where Porter Sr. had previously served as an assistant for the women's basketball team starting in 2014, played a significant role in shifting the family's focus back to the Tigers.[25] On March 23, 2017, Porter Sr. was hired as an assistant coach for Missouri's men's team under head coach Cuonzo Martin.[26] The next day, on March 24, 2017, Porter Jr. decommitted from Washington and verbally committed to Missouri, citing the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother Jontay, a highly touted 2018 recruit who followed with his own commitment to the Tigers in May 2017.[21][27] He officially signed a financial aid agreement with Missouri on April 12, 2017, the first day of the early signing period.[28] Porter Jr.'s arrival generated substantial preseason excitement for Missouri, with analysts positioning him as a frontrunner for National Freshman of the Year and even National Player of the Year honors, while his presence elevated the Tigers' expectations in the Southeastern Conference, where they were projected to finish fifth in preseason polls.[14][29] ESPN named him to its Preseason All-America First Team, underscoring his anticipated impact on a roster rebuilding under Martin.[14]2017–18 season
Michael Porter Jr.'s freshman season at the University of Missouri was drastically curtailed by a back injury that required surgery early in the year. He appeared in the season opener against Iowa State on November 10, 2017, playing just two minutes before exiting due to lower back pain stemming from a herniated disc.[30] On November 21, 2017, Porter underwent microdiscectomy surgery on his L3 and L4 spinal discs in Dallas, Texas, with a projected recovery of three to four months that sidelined him for the majority of the season.[31] Despite the setback, Porter returned in March 2018 for Missouri's final two games, providing a brief but notable scoring presence on offense. In the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal against Georgia on March 8, he recorded 12 points and 8 rebounds in 23 minutes. He followed with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes during the Tigers' NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Florida State on March 16. Over his three total games, Porter averaged 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 33.3 percent from the field.[30][32] Under first-year head coach Cuonzo Martin, Missouri finished the season with a 20–13 overall record and 10–8 mark in SEC play, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed—marking the program's first appearance since 2012. Porter's limited contributions highlighted his potential as a versatile scorer and rebounder, though the injury hampered the team's preseason expectations around the highly touted recruit, whose family ties included his father serving as an assistant coach at Missouri prior to the season. Following the Tigers' postseason exit, Porter announced on March 26, 2018, that he would declare for the 2018 NBA draft and sign with an agent, forgoing his remaining college eligibility despite the abbreviated season.[33]Professional career
2018 NBA draft
Michael Porter Jr. entered the 2018 NBA draft as a highly touted prospect, initially projected as a top-five selection due to his scoring ability, size, and versatility as a 6-foot-10 forward out of the University of Missouri. However, a back injury sustained during his freshman college season, which limited him to just three games and required surgery, significantly lowered his draft stock, causing him to slide into the late lottery.[34][35] The Denver Nuggets selected Porter 14th overall in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft held on June 21, 2018, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. On draft night, teams conducted medical evaluations that revealed ongoing concerns about his lower back condition, including the possibility of additional procedures.[34] Following the draft, Porter underwent a second back surgery on July 19, 2018, to address lingering issues from his initial procedure. He signed his rookie-scale contract with the Nuggets on July 3, 2018, a four-year deal worth approximately $15.1 million, with the first-year salary set at $2.4 million. The Nuggets planned a cautious approach to his integration, prioritizing full recovery over an immediate role on the roster, as his agent indicated optimism for a return but emphasized no rush in the timeline.[36][37][35]Denver Nuggets (2018–2025)
Selected 14th overall in the 2018 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. missed his entire rookie season after undergoing a second back surgery on July 19, 2018, to address lingering issues from his college injury. He made his NBA debut on October 31, 2019, and appeared in 55 games during the 2019–20 regular season, primarily off the bench, averaging 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 50.9% from the field and 42.2% from three-point range.[5][38][39] Porter Jr. emerged as a key contributor in the 2020 playoffs, helping the Nuggets stage comebacks from 3–1 deficits against the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals, respectively. In 19 playoff games, he averaged 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, including standout performances like 21 points and 10 rebounds in Game 7 against the Clippers. His role expanded in the 2020–21 season, where he started 43 of 61 games and averaged 19.0 points and 7.3 rebounds, establishing himself as a versatile forward with elite shooting efficiency (54.2% field goal, 44.5% three-point). He played in all 10 playoff games that year, averaging 17.4 points and 6.2 rebounds.[1][5] The 2021–22 season was derailed by a third back surgery in December 2021 to alleviate lumbar spine pressure, restricting Porter Jr. to only 9 games with averages of 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds. He returned strongly in 2022–23, playing 62 regular-season games and averaging 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 48.0% from the field and 42.1% from three. In the playoffs, Porter Jr. elevated his game, averaging 13.4 points and 8.1 rebounds over 20 games, including crucial rebounding in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, where he posted 8.4 rebounds per game despite shooting struggles (39.6% field goal). His defensive presence and spacing were instrumental in Denver's 4–1 series victory and first NBA championship.[5][40][41][42][39] From 2023–24 onward, Porter Jr. solidified his status as a consistent starter, appearing in 81 games during the 2023–24 season with 16.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on 48.4% field goal and 40.1% three-point shooting. In 2024–25, he played 77 games, boosting his scoring to 18.2 points and maintaining 7.0 rebounds while improving his efficiency inside the paint. Recurring minor injuries, including a left ankle sprain early in 2023–24 and a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder during the 2025 playoffs, tested his durability, but he demonstrated playoff reliability by playing through the shoulder issue and contributing effectively in postseason matchups.[5][43][44] Amid growing trade rumors in the 2024–25 season—fueled by his high salary, defensive inconsistencies, and the need for roster flexibility around Nikola Jokić—the Nuggets traded Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets on July 8, 2025, along with an unprotected 2032 first-round pick, in exchange for forward Cam Johnson. The move allowed Denver to address shooting and defense while reshaping its contending core.[45][4][46]Brooklyn Nets (2025–present)
On July 8, 2025, the Brooklyn Nets acquired forward Michael Porter Jr. from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for forward Cameron Johnson, with the Nets also receiving an unprotected 2032 first-round draft pick from Denver. Porter entered the trade under the remaining years of his five-year, $179 million maximum contract extension originally signed with Denver in 2021, which includes $38.3 million for the 2025–26 season.[4][47][48][49] As of November 15, 2025, through 11 games of the 2025–26 season, Porter has emerged as the Nets' leading scorer, averaging 23.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. In this expanded role as the primary offensive option amid Brooklyn's rebuilding efforts around young talent, he has showcased his scoring versatility, including efficient mid-range and three-point shooting. Standout performances include a 32-point, 11-rebound double-double in a 112–103 victory over the Indiana Pacers on November 5, 2025, marking the Nets' first win of the season, and 28 points on 8-of-17 shooting in a 125–107 loss to the Detroit Pistons two days later. On November 14, 2025, he recorded 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 105–98 loss to the Orlando Magic.[50][51][7][52][53] Porter's transition to Brooklyn has involved adapting to a higher-usage role on a developing roster, contrasting his complementary position in Denver, while navigating the intensified media scrutiny of the New York market. His championship experience from the 2023 NBA title with the Nuggets has provided subtle leadership guidance to Brooklyn's inexperienced core.[54][7][55]Career statistics and records
NBA regular season
Michael Porter Jr. entered the NBA with the Denver Nuggets after being selected in the 2018 draft, but missed his entire rookie season due to back surgery recovery. He debuted in the 2019–20 season, appearing in 55 games primarily off the bench, averaging 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 50.9% from the field and 42.2% from three-point range.[5] His role expanded significantly in the 2020–21 season, starting 54 of 61 games and boosting his production to 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, with efficient shooting at 54.2% field goal and 44.5% from beyond the arc.[5] Injuries limited Porter to just 9 games during the 2021–22 season, where he averaged 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds, hampered by a lower shooting efficiency of 35.9% from the field. He rebounded in 2022–23 with 62 starts, posting 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game on 48.7% field goal and 41.4% three-point shooting. The 2023–24 season saw him in 81 games, averaging 16.7 points and 7.0 rebounds with a 48.4% field goal percentage. In 2024–25 with the Nuggets, Porter played 77 starts, achieving 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game at 50.4% from the field and 39.5% from three. Early in the 2025–26 season with the Brooklyn Nets, through 10 games, he has averaged 23.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the field and 35.6% from three-point range.[5] Porter's career regular season per-game averages stand at 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, with shooting splits of 49.6% from the field and 40.3% from three-point range across 355 games, reflecting his evolution from a limited-minute bench contributor to a high-usage starter logging around 30 minutes per game in recent seasons.[5] Advanced metrics underscore his efficiency as a scorer, with a career player efficiency rating (PER) of 17.0 and true shooting percentage (TS%) of .615; peak years like 2020–21 featured a PER of 20.6 and TS% of .663, while trends show consistent TS% above .600 in full seasons except the injury-shortened 2021–22.[5]| Season | Team | G | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | FG% | 3P% | PER | TS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | DEN | 55 | 16.4 | 9.3 | 4.7 | 0.8 | .509 | .422 | 19.8 | .617 |
| 2020–21 | DEN | 61 | 31.3 | 19.0 | 7.3 | 1.1 | .542 | .445 | 20.6 | .663 |
| 2021–22 | DEN | 9 | 29.4 | 9.9 | 6.6 | 1.9 | .359 | .208 | 7.5 | .416 |
| 2022–23 | DEN | 62 | 29.0 | 17.4 | 5.5 | 1.0 | .487 | .414 | 16.8 | .621 |
| 2023–24 | DEN | 81 | 31.7 | 16.7 | 7.0 | 1.5 | .484 | .397 | 15.5 | .601 |
| 2024–25 | DEN | 77 | 33.7 | 18.2 | 7.0 | 2.1 | .504 | .395 | 16.2 | .617 |
| 2025–26 | BKN | 10 | 32.0 | 23.1 | 7.4 | 2.6 | .463 | .356 | 18.0 | .590 |
| Career | 355 | 29.2 | 16.4 | 6.6 | 1.5 | .496 | .403 | 17.0 | .615 |
NBA playoffs
Michael Porter Jr. has played in 75 NBA playoff games across six postseason appearances, averaging 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 35.1% from three-point range.[5] His role as a floor-spacer has been particularly valuable in high-stakes matchups, leveraging his shooting to create space for teammates like Nikola Jokić during Denver's deep playoff runs.[1] In the playoffs, Porter has often elevated his rebounding impact, averaging over 8 boards per game in the 2023 NBA Finals, contributing to the Nuggets' championship success.[5] In the 2020 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Porter averaged 12.2 points and 6.0 rebounds over five games, providing efficient scoring as a rookie with a 40.9% three-point clip in the series.[56] The Nuggets fell 4-1, but Porter's 22 points on 9-of-22 shooting in Game 5 highlighted his potential in extended playoff exposure.[57] Three years later, in the 2023 NBA Finals versus the Miami Heat, he posted 9.6 points and a playoff-high 8.4 rebounds per game across five contests, including a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 victory that clinched Denver's first title.[58] During the 2024–25 playoffs with the Denver Nuggets, Porter appeared in 14 games, averaging 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds as the team advanced past the first round before losing 4-3 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals. He shot an impressive 44.1% from beyond the arc in the seven-game first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, underscoring his value as a perimeter threat despite a dip in scoring volume.[5] Overall, Porter's playoff three-point shooting has shown series-specific spikes above 40%, enhancing his role in spacing the floor during Denver's contention window before his July 2025 trade to the Brooklyn Nets.[4]College statistics
During his lone college season with the Missouri Tigers in 2017–18, Michael Porter Jr.'s participation was limited to just three games due to a hip injury requiring surgery. He averaged 17.7 minutes per game, posting 10.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game, along with 1.0 steals. His shooting in limited action was .333 from the field and .300 from three-point range.[32]| Season | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Missouri | 3 | 17.7 | .333 | .300 | 10.0 | 6.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 |