$179 Million NBA Star Breaks Silence After Being Traded

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 4:07 PM ET

The Denver Nuggets entered the offseason hoping to build a championship squad after two consecutive second round playoff exits. So far this summer, the Nuggets have gotten busy, making major moves and building new pieces around superstar Nikola Jokic.

Perhaps the most notable was a blockbuster deal that sent forward Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cameron Johnson. Porter’s final stretch in Denver was marked by inconsistency and injury concerns. Despite averaging 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds over 77 games last season, his postseason was derailed by a shoulder issue that limited his effectiveness, although he played all of the Nuggets 12 playoff games.

For long, critics had pointed out that his role in the Nuggets’ two-man offensive system left little room for him to expand his game and in a recent interview, Porter finally broke his silence about his time in Denver.

Reacting to the move on his YouTube channel, Porter said: “Over there in Denver, I felt like my ceiling had kind of plateaued... I want to expand my game and keep getting better throughout my career."

Porter also expressed excitement about what’s ahead in Brooklyn. He added that while he appreciated Denver’s system, he’s eager for the freedom to grow into a more complete player.

Michael Porter Jr. breaks his silence on being traded to the Nets:

"I'm really excited for this next chapter in Brooklyn. Over in Denver, I feel like my ceiling had plateaued... I want to grow my game. I don't want to plateau. I want to keep getting better throughout my career." pic.twitter.com/hyc0Re8wSI
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) July 10, 2025

During his seven seasons with the Nuggets, Porter played a key role in their 2023 championship run and established himself as a reliable scorer and rebounder. Over his last three seasons, he averaged 17.1 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting efficiently (49/40/79 splits), giving Denver steady floor spacing alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Porter now joins a Nets team looking to build around its young core and reset for the future. Known for his size and elite shooting, he could immediately boost Brooklyn’s perimeter game while stepping into a bigger leadership role.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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