Former Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. took joy in “cooking” the Los Angeles Lakers when the two sides clashed in back-to-back playoff series in 2023 and 2024.
In 2023, when the Nuggets swept the Lakers en route to the NBA title, MPJ averaged 15.0 points on 41/42/100 shooting splits, while draining 3.5 threes per game. A year later, he was even more deadly, averaging 22.8 points on 55/49/77 shooting splits, while making an impressive 4.0 threes per game from 8.2 attempts.
MPJ’s ability to light up from deep played a key role in the Nuggets beating the Lakers by a margin of 8-1 across two playoff series. Now that he has been traded to the Brooklyn Nets, the sharpshooter has begun taking digs at his former rival.
In a recent interview with the “Glory Daze” podcast, MPJ mocked the Lakers fanbase for expecting their team to beat the Nuggets, only to be heartbroken.
MPJ Mocks Lakers Fans
“‘I used to love those series against the Lakers. They were exciting,” Porter Jr. said.
“The Lakers fans — they always thought they could beat us, but they never did. I always had good series against the Lakers. I don’t know what it was, but I always cooked the Lakers. I just think that they didn’t really have a guy, a matchup for me that was trying to come off of screens.”
MPJ admitted that his adulation for LeBron James made those wins more meaningful.
“Those series against ‘Bron were dope,” he stressed. “He’s the epitome of greatness in sports, and to be able to be, like, go into L.A. — we swept the Lakers one year, the other year we beat them 4-1. It was a good feeling.
“When you have so much respect for somebody, like I do for LeBron, and to be able to go head-to-head and come out on top, it was lit. I’m not even gonna lie.”
LeBron Praised MPJ After Series
After the Lakers lost 4-1 to the Nuggets in the 2024 playoffs, James spoke highly of MPJ’s ability to shoot at a high clip, while reflecting on the series.
“Michael Porter Jr. is a [expletive] laser,” James said on his “Mind the Game” podcast about the former Nuggets forward, via Silver Screen and Roll.
“I don’t know if it’s just cause he sees the Lakers or the gold or whatever, but I feel like, versus us, that [expletive] don’t miss. He does not miss. You know how they say, ‘Close the gap, get to his chest.’ He doesn’t even see you. He doesn’t even see you.”
James that, although Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were Denver’s best players, MPJ was the x-factor who titled the series in the Nuggets’ favor.
“Listen, Jamal hit two game-winners on us, but you look at his numbers, we did a hell of a job on Jamal as far as making it tough on him. He shot maybe high 30s, I don’t know the statistics, but maybe high 30s from the field in our series. Obviously, Joker’s going to do what he did. Michael Porter is the one who kicked our [expletive].”
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