Michael Porter Jr. and Dillon Brooks have both spent years hearing the noise, and in Episode 2 of PLYR2PLYR, they made it clear they’re not losing sleep over it. The two forwards talked through online hate, the way public perception swings from game to game, and how each of them has leaned into a version of himself that fits the league’s spotlight.
Porter said the praise and criticism come as a package deal in the NBA, and players have to learn to live with both. His blunt read on it was simple: "You got to get immune to both of them if you ever want to live a peaceful life," Porter said.
Brooks agreed that a strong stretch can quickly rewrite the story people tell about a player. That’s one reason he’s tried to keep outside opinion at arm’s length. He also said having his own podcast has helped him control how his story gets told, instead of leaving that to everyone else.
For Brooks, the “villain” label isn’t something he’s running from. He said it fuels him.
"For me, it just keeps motivation for every game," Brooks said.
He likes the edge that comes with trash talk, but only if he can match it on the floor. He also described that villain identity as something that sets up a challenge others may not want to take on.
"I feel like I'm writing and telling a new story," he said.
At the same time, Brooks pushed back on the idea that his on-court image defines him away from the game. He described himself as a laid-back person who puts family first and wants interests outside basketball.
That separation took time to figure out. Early in his career, he worried the way he carried himself during games might spill into team chemistry, including during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Eventually, he learned to keep that side of himself locked in for competition instead of letting it spill everywhere else.
Porter also opened up about the mental side of game day. He said he stands quietly before tipoff, taking in the sounds and energy around him as a way to settle in and block out distractions. That routine helps him lock onto basketball and nothing else.
Off the court, Porter said his family and faith keep him grounded. Injuries changed his outlook, too. He once felt invincible and expected to become one of the league’s best players, but that experience taught him not to take the chance to play for granted.
The conversation also turned to development. Porter said improving his mid-post game is a priority, especially getting more comfortable catching the ball, facing up, and creating his own shot when defenses are trying to keep him out of the action. He believes that growth could lift his scoring average by four to six points and give him another way to attack teams that key on limiting his touches.
He also talked about what changed when he joined the Brooklyn Nets. After seven seasons in Denver with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, Porter knew he’d have more chances to score in Brooklyn.
The bigger job, though, was proving he could handle being a primary option. He pointed to early-season games against Cleveland and Atlanta as proof he could do it, following 14 points in his first game against Charlotte with 34 against the Cavaliers and then another 30-point night against Atlanta.
Brooks had his own path to becoming a more complete player. He said defense was the focus when he entered the league, especially after Memphis coach David Fizdale challenged him to guard the team’s best opposing player.
Strength training, film study and defensive drills helped him learn how to stay in front of opponents and read what they were trying to do. Over time, he put more work into the offensive side as well, seeing that he could make himself dangerous on both ends.
The pair even looked past basketball when asked what comes after the NBA. Coaching did not sound appealing to either player. Porter said broadcasting could be in his future, while Brooks tossed out the idea of driving for Uber and interviewing passengers about their lives.
By the end of the conversation, the contrast was pretty clear. Brooks has made his villain reputation part of his competitive engine, and Porter has learned how to tune out the static while stepping into a bigger role in Brooklyn. With the new season approaching, both are still pushing to sharpen their games, even if they’re doing it with very different personalities.
In Other News...
Nets New-Look Offense Impressed But One Old Problem Is Already Back
The new offense looked plenty capable in Brooklyns season opener at Barclays Center, even in a 110-103 loss to Charlotte. Julius Randle settled in quickly in his Nets debut, while Michael Porter Jr. provided another scoring punch, giving the team a glimpse of the firepower it had been hoping to unleash with its revamped lineup.
But the bigger concern showed up on the other end, where the same issues that have haunted the Nets before were hard to miss. Charlotte repeatedly turned missed shots and loose possessions into extra chances, and Brooklyns defensive lapses helped the Hornets stay in control late, a troubling early reminder that the offense may not be the only thing this group needs to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Got An Early Look At Charlottes New Life After LaMelo
Charlottes season opener offered an early glimpse at how life might look after LaMelo Ball, and the answer was a balanced, spread-the-production kind of night. In a 110-103 win over the Nets, the Hornets got major early contributions from newcomers Naz Reid and Grayson Allen, with Allen providing a steady scoring punch off the bench and helping set the tone for an offense that did not need one dominant engine to get by.
Brooklyn had chances to make it a different story, but the scoring burden was concentrated in just a couple of places, which made the margin for error thin once Charlotte settled in. Reids all-around debut was part of that story, but the bigger takeaway for the Nets is the one they just got up close: this version of Charlotte can still create problems without leaning on the same star-driven formula it used before. [Read more 🡒]
New Look Nets Start With A Tough Sign Against Short-Handed Hornets
The new-look Nets opened their season with a familiar kind of frustration, dropping a 110-103 decision to a Charlotte team that was missing Coby White and Kon Knueppel but still found enough firepower to control the night. Charlotte got a strong debut from Naz Reid, who delivered 20 points and 11 rebounds after arriving in the deal that sent LaMelo Ball away, and Grayson Allen added 21 points off the bench to help the Hornets sort through their lineup changes.
Brooklyn had its own bright spot in Julius Randle, who looked comfortable right away in his Nets debut and gave the offense a steady scoring base. Even so, the loss underscored how much work remains for a roster still trying to settle in, with the opening-night energy giving way to the kind of late-game execution that often separates a fresh start from an encouraging one. [Read more 🡒]