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Michael Porter Jr. Reveals Nikola Jokic's Unique Goodbye Message Following Nets Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Ettinger | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 6:56 PM ET

Michael Porter Jr. was traded from the Denver Nuggets to the Brooklyn Nets this offseason. After being drafted by the Nuggets with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Porter Jr. helped lead the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in franchise history in 2023.

Porter Jr. was dealt to the Nets in early July, along with an unprotected 2032 first-round pick, for Cameron Johnson. The belief is the Nuggets are looking to re-tool with the sharp-shooting Johnson, while also cutting salary in the process.

With Porter Jr. getting set to play for a new team for the first time in his NBA career, his now former Nuggets' teammates all had parting messages, or advice, to send Porter Jr. before he made his move to New York City.

Nikola Jokic Gives Michael Porter Jr. Interesting Advice

Porter Jr., during an appearance on Johnny Manziel's podcast, "Glory Daze", began to reveal the last messages and interactions he had with his teammates, who he called friends, once the trade became official.

The message he received from three-time MVP, Nikola Jokic, is simply unique, while others are viewing it as sound advice.

"Make sure you wear a condom out there. That's all he said. That was his goodbye to me," Porter Jr. said.

Michael Porter Jr. says Nikola Jokić texted him, “Make sure you wear condom out there,” after his trade to Brooklyn

(h/t @DNVR_Nuggets / @Andrew_Fenichel )

pic.twitter.com/tDut6tU8lO
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 21, 2025

While Jokic has regularly been known as an NBA player with personality and a sense of humor, this is quite a unique goodbye message to send a teammate of six years.

Multiple videos of Porter Jr. have surfaced recently, with the 27-year-old forward revealing his personal thoughts on a wide variety of topics. So, it's possible Jokic is simply attempting to provide sound advice to his now former teammate.

Porter Jr. will officially call Brooklyn home when he takes the court for the Nets for the first time. The Nets first preseason game is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4 against the Jerusalem Hapeol basketball club inside Barclay's Center. It remains to be seen if Porter Jr. will play in that game. The Nets first regular season game is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 22, on the road, against the Charlotte Hornets.

Porter Jr.'s first chance to face his former team will come on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at home. He'll also have a chance to make his return to Denver as an opposing player on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. Those are the only two matchups scheduled between the Nets and Nuggets this season.

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

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