Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. cashed in back in 2021 when he signed a four-year, $179,299,750 contract extension with the Denver Nuggets. Porter Jr has had highs and lows in Denver. Porter Jr. struggled with injuries in his lone season with Missouri, and those issues continued into the pros – he played just nine games during the 2021-2022 season after undergoing back surgery for the third time.
Porter Jr. bounced back the following season, averaging 17.2 points per game and playing in 62 games, all while helping the Nuggets claim the 2023 NBA Title. Over the last two seasons, Porter Jr. played in all but five games, showing his health concerns were a thing of the past. After years of rumors, the Nuggets finally dealt Porter Jr. this offseason, sending Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Nets for Cam Johnson.
Michael Porter Jr. Tries to Explain the Nets’ Struggles
Porter Jr. believes there is a significant reason the Nets have struggled so much.
“I think it starts with the point guard spot,” Porter Jr. explained per Erik Slater of Clutch Points. “We have a lot of rookie point guards who are going to be great in this league for a long time, but they’re still rookies.”
Porter has had a strong start to the season, averaging 21.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting an impressive 50.6% from the field and 41.0% from beyond the arc. However, the Nets have started the season 0-5, putting a damper on Porter Jr.’s hot start.
Michael Porter Jr. on the Nets’ 0-5 start and what can change throughout the season:
“I think it starts with the point guard spot. We have a lot of rookie point guards who are going to be great in this league for a long time, but they’re still rookies… I think the point guard… pic.twitter.com/tqxcP9w9UG
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) October 30, 2025
Although he praised both Egor Demin and Ben Saraf, Porter believes that point guard is the most challenging position to play, which is why the rookies will take time to adjust.
“I think the point guard position may be the hardest position in the game, and we have a lot of young guys playing that position,” Porter Jr. explained. “So it’s really hard to win when that point guard spot isn’t solidified. I think Ben is doing a great job picking things up and I think Egor, but they’re still rookies.”
Demin, a 19-year-old rookie out of BYU, was the 8th overall pick in the draft. He’s averaging 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 29.5 minutes per game. Saraf was taken 18 sports later at 26. Saraf, a South African native, is averaging 3.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game in 18.2 minutes of playing time. He’s shooting just 21.7% from the field and has failed to score in two of his five games this season.
Obviously, the Nets are in the process of rebuilding, and there will be many difficult nights ahead. Porter Jr. seemed to acknowledge and accept that fact.
“I don’t think as a rookie I was ready to really contribute to winning,” Porter Jr. told reporters. “So I think it’s going to be a work in progress.”
Porter Jr. and the Nets will return to the court on Sunday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at 6:00 p.m. ET.
