May 7, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) against the Phoenix Suns during game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Denver Nuggets Still Owe Michael Porter Jr. A Lot Of Money

Originally posted on Fastbreak on SI | By Ben Stinar | Last updated 10/12/24

Michael Porter Jr. is going into his seventh season in the NBA (all with the Denver Nuggets).

While he hasn't been an All-Star, the 26-year-old is a good role player next to Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic

This past season, he averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest while shooting 48.4% from the field and 39.7% from the three-point range in 81 games.

Porter Jr. still has three more years left on his contract that will pay him over $114 million until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Next season, he will be paid $35.9 million.

MPJ put KD on a poster pic.twitter.com/d6MKl0KiM8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 6, 2023

If Porter Jr. can remain healthy and continue to get better as a shooter, then he will be worth the big money remaining in his contract.

That said, this will be a big year for Porter Jr. and the Nuggets.

Michael Porter Jr. says the money makes playing in the NBA feel more like a job:

“I would have played this game for free as long as I could eat. I loved it… The money sometimes makes it a little bit harder to enjoy the game because with a max contract comes a lot of… pic.twitter.com/5A0UBsUVBN
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 28, 2024

The Nuggets won the 2023 NBA Championship over Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.

However, they are coming off a season where they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round.

On October 24, the Nuggets will play their first game of the 2024-25 regular season when they host Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder in Denver.

Porter Jr. was the 14th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after one season of college basketball at Missouri.

His career averages are 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest while shooting 49.9% from the field and 41.0% from the three-point range in 268 games.

He has appeared in 61 NBA playoff games (45 starts).

This article first appeared on Fastbreak on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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