“Basketball Is His Safe Place”: Coach Malone Comforts Michael Porter Jr. Amid NBA Ban and Prison Sentence to Brothers

It has been a rough week for Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. His brother Jontay Porter’s NBA career got cut short after he received a lifetime ban on Wednesday for betting on NBA games and handing out confidential information to bettors. And his second brother Coban was sentenced to 6 years in prison on Friday for killing a 42-year-old woman in a DUI crash last year. While dealing with these personal tough situations, Michael Porter Jr. still has a job to finish on court. The Nuggets will host the Lakers tonight in Game 1 of the first round of playoffs. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone had some comforting words, ahead of the crucial game to motivate Michael Porter Jr.

“We fully support Michael. He’s a warrior. He’s been through a lot. Basketball is his safe place.” Michael Porter Jr. will suit up for tonight’s Game 1 against LeBron James and Co. despite the adversity in his personal life. Malone remarked, “Our guys are ready.”

MPJ missed Friday’s Nuggets practice as he attended Coban’s trial. Porter revealed his younger brother’s influence in his life, “I truly don’t think I’d be in the position I am today as a professional basketball player without a brother like Coban pushing me every day. He would get up earlier than me, work out harder than me. I know it’s not often that a big brother looks up to a younger brother, but that is how it was for me.” The fact that Michael Porter Jr. is able to push through his pain and be in the right mindset to play tonight is commendable.

The Nuggets need Michael Porter Jr. to defend their Championship

The Denver Nuggets are doing everything in their power to support Michael Porter Jr. in this tough time. Even though his teammate Jamal Murray has not talked to him about his brothers personally, he understands the gravity of the situation. “We’re just keeping it professional here, and we all support him. He’s handling it really well. Obviously, it’s not easy. But yeah, we’re just letting him deal with it.”

Denver needs Porter at 100% to get past the Lakers and defend their Championship. He was a key piece in Denver’s Championship run last season. MPJ averaged 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in the 2023 playoffs to help Denver bag their first ring. He has continued his impressive form this season as well. Porter had the healthiest season of his NBA career, playing 81 of the 82 regular season games. He was consistent in his performance despite the high usage rate, averaging 16.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.

MPJ brings elite shooting to the Nuggets roster and gives them a major size advantage against opponents. Not many 6’10 players in the league can shoot at a high clip like Porter. Even LeBron James acknowledged Porter’s importance on the Nuggets roster ahead of their playoff clash. He claimed when Porter is at his best, Denver is nearly impossible to beat. MPJ averaged 15 points and shot a whopping 42.4% from beyond the arc in last year’s WCF series against LA. His availability is crucial for Denver in the playoffs, and it will be interesting to see how he performs amid the adversity in his personal life.