Michael Porter Jr. spent six seasons with the Denver Nuggets, and for most of that time, it looked like things were on solid ground. He was a key starter, a major offensive weapon, and part of a championship core. But ever since he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, Porter hasn’t exactly been subtle about how he feels-and let’s just say, he’s not sending Denver any thank-you cards.
Since landing in Brooklyn, Porter has been unusually vocal about his new surroundings-and not in a way that flatters his old team. From praising the Nets’ facilities to talking about how he’s finally in a place where he feels appreciated, the subtext is loud and clear: he didn’t feel that way in Denver.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Porter said, *“I love the staff, I love the energy of practice. Everyone gets along and has great vibes and great energy around the facility.
So whatever team wants and appreciates what I bring to the table, then that’s where I want to be. And I feel like they do here.”
Now, he didn’t drop Denver’s name directly, but let’s be honest-there’s only one other team he’s played for. So when he talks about finally feeling appreciated, about loving the staff and the energy of practice, it’s not hard to read between the lines. This is a guy who clearly feels like he wasn’t valued the way he should’ve been in Denver.
And to some extent, he’s got a point. The Nuggets didn’t just trade Porter-they included a valuable first-round pick to move him and his contract.
That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement. Denver wanted more flexibility, and they saw Cam Johnson as a better fit.
That’s business. But for a player like Porter, who’s dealt with injuries, worked his way into a starting role, and helped the franchise win a title, it’s easy to understand why he might feel a little burned.
Still, there’s a bit of irony here. This is the same Nuggets organization that drafted him when others passed due to medical concerns.
They stuck with him through multiple back surgeries, integrated him into a championship-caliber team, and gave him a sizable contract extension. He wasn’t just a role player-he was a foundational piece during their title run.
So to hear Porter now talk like Denver was holding him back? That’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that invested so much in his development.
Nuggets fans remember the highs-his shot-making, his size and scoring touch, his ability to stretch the floor next to Jokic and Murray. But they also remember the inconsistencies, the defensive lapses, and the long stretches where his health was a question mark.
That’s what makes this whole saga complicated. Porter isn’t entirely wrong to feel slighted, but it’s also fair to wonder where the gratitude is for a team that helped him become the player he is today.
Denver gave him the platform. Brooklyn might be giving him a fresh start, but the foundation was built in the Mile High City.
Whether this is just a player trying to hype up his new team or something deeper, one thing’s clear: Michael Porter Jr. isn’t looking back fondly on his time in Denver. And while the Nuggets have moved on, it seems MPJ still has something to prove-not just to his new team, but maybe to the one that let him go.