Michael Porter Jr.’s coaches and teammates are supporting him as he faces a tough week while the Denver Nuggets start their playoff journey against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Porter, aged 25, was absent from practice on Friday as he attended his younger brother Coban’s sentencing for a drunken driving accident that caused the death of a 42-year-old woman last year.
Coban Porter, aged 22, a former basketball player at the University of Denver, received a six-year jail term. This came just two days after another brother, former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, aged 24, was banned for life from the NBA for betting on basketball and sharing confidential information with other bettors.
The family has been dealing with the consequences of each brother’s punishment for a while, but it hasn’t seemed to affect Michael Porter Jr.’s performance on the court. He had a strong season, averaging 16.7 points and seven rebounds while missing only one game.
Coach Michael Malone praised Porter’s strength, acknowledging the challenges he’s facing off the court.
Jamal Murray mentioned that they haven’t talked to Porter about his family situation, but they’re there to support him. They’re keeping things professional and respecting his space.
Forward Christian Braun noted that Porter appears to be handling things well mentally, focusing on their playoff defense despite the family issues.
Porter didn’t speak to reporters during practice this week, but he did speak at his brother’s sentencing, expressing his feelings to the judge. He shared how he was initially shocked by the news of Coban’s crash, fearing that Coban was the one who had passed away.
