Michael Porter Jr. revealed on Tuesday that playing through a shoulder sprain in the 2025 playoffs contributed to the Denver Nuggets’ decision to trade him. The forward spoke at Brooklyn Nets media day about the physical toll he endured during Denver’s second-round exit.
Porter Jr., who was traded to Brooklyn on July 8 for Cam Johnson and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick, said he could “barely lift his shoulder” in the playoffs. Despite his limitations, he felt his presence was necessary for the team.
“When I had that injury, they told me it’s a three or four-month injury, like you’re probably done for the playoffs,” Porter Jr. said on YES Network, via ClutchPoints. “But at that point, I didn’t feel like our team was deep enough to compete for a championship if I wasn’t at least out there as a decoy.”
Porter Jr. averaged 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game on 39/34/71 shooting during the postseason. He added that he faced scrutiny from fans and media but accepted the risk of playing through pain.
“It was a risk, but it was a risk I was willing to take and something I would do all over again,” he said. “Even if I’m not 100 percent, it’s the playoffs. So I kinda felt like, ‘What am I saving myself for?’”
Denver, despite Porter Jr.’s injury, pushed eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the second round. The Nuggets had previously defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in a seven-game first-round series.
Porter Jr. was a key contributor to Denver’s 2023 championship team, averaging 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds during that postseason. His trade marks a significant roster change as the Nuggets aim to rebound under new leadership.
The Nuggets also fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth late in the 2024–25 season, creating a new organizational structure heading into the 2025–26 campaign. Nikola Jokic remains the team’s cornerstone.
