Michael Porter Jr.

The sharpshooting forward who overcame multiple back surgeries to deliver Denver's first NBA title.

Michael Porter Jr., widely known as 'MPJ', is an American professional basketball player who played for the Denver Nuggets from 2018 until his trade to the Brooklyn Nets in 2025. Originally a top prospect in the class of 2017, he was selected 14th overall by the Nuggets but missed his entire rookie season due to back surgery. After returning to action in late 2019, Porter evolved into a critical scorer and rebounder for Denver. His resilience culminated in Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals, where he recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds to help the franchise win its first-ever championship. Following six seasons in Denver, including setting franchise records for three-pointers and consecutive 30-point games, Porter was traded away in July 2025.

Quick Facts

Position: Small forward
League: NBA
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Born: 29 June 1998
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
High school: Father Tolton (Columbia, Missouri); Nathan Hale (Seattle, Washington)
College: Missouri (2017–2018)
Draft round: 1

Lore & Background

Porter's journey began with high expectations after leading Nathan Hale High School to a perfect 29–0 record and averaging 36.2 points as a senior. He committed to the University of Missouri, where his freshman season was derailed by a lower back injury requiring microdiscectomy surgery on November 22, 2017. Despite being cleared in February 2018, he played only two games before declaring for the draft. The Nuggets selected him 14th overall but announced just weeks later that he needed a second back surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2018–19 season. His NBA debut finally came on October 31, 2019, against the New Orleans Pelicans. Over the next five seasons, Porter overcame a third back surgery in late 2021 and emerged as a primary scoring option. He set a franchise record with 193 made three-pointers in the 2023–24 season and led the Nuggets to their first championship in 2023.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Michael Porter Jr.'s tenure with Denver, the narrative is defined by specific statistical breakthroughs and career highs. His scoring ceiling was reached on April 24, 2021, when he scored a then-career-high 39 points against the Houston Rockets. This mark was tied again on February 5, 2026, in a dominant 144–119 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, where he also grabbed 12 rebounds. His playmaking and scoring volume grew significantly after joining the Nets, where he recorded career-high averages of 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists during the 2025–26 season before an ankle and hamstring injury ended his campaign on April 3, 2026. Key moments include his first start on December 29, 2019, against Sacramento (19 points) and his game-winning jumper in a 122–120 victory over Dallas on November 10, 2024.

Did You Know?

He was named MVP of the 2017 McDonald's All-American Game, leading the West to a 109–107 victory.
In 2024, two of his younger brothers were involved in legal troubles: Coban was sentenced to prison for DUI manslaughter, and Jevon was arrested for suspected DWI.
Porter became the first Nuggets player ever to record three consecutive games with at least 30 points and five made threes in February 2025.