“We’re human, so we carry our emotions and the things that go on off the court onto the court,” Porter said.

Michael Porter Jr. shared that he received individual messages of support from his Nuggets teammates following a difficult personal week. His 22-year-old brother, Coban, was sentenced to six years in prison for causing a woman’s death in a drunk driving incident last year. Additionally, his 24-year-old brother, Jontay, was banned from the NBA for life earlier in the week due to a sports betting scandal.

“Each teammate texted me separately, saying they’ve got my back and are there for me if I need anything,” Porter said Saturday night after the Nuggets’ 114-103 Game 1 win at Ball Arena. “Many people reached out—friends, family. It’s been important to have my teammates understand why I missed practice yesterday and support me.”

Porter missed Friday’s practice to attend Coban’s sentencing hearing, where he addressed the victim’s family, saying, “I understand your family’s pain and hurt.”

In his return to the court on Saturday, Porter scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds against the Lakers.

“We’re human, so we carry our emotions and personal issues onto the court,” Porter said. “But I’m mentally tough. I’ve faced many challenges throughout my career, and this was just another one to play through.”

Jontay Porter was under a two-way contract with the Raptors when he allegedly shared health information with a known sports bettor on March 20. After another bettor placed an $80,000 parlay bet predicting Porter would underperform in that night’s game, Porter played only three minutes, claiming illness. A league investigation also revealed that Porter had placed bets on NBA games, including one against the Raptors.

When news of the investigation emerged, Michael Porter Jr. expressed skepticism that his brother would risk his career by betting on games.

“Certainly, I tried to compartmentalize,” remarked Michael Porter Jr. on Saturday. “There were unfortunate and distressing incidents involving a couple of my brothers. But I have 15, 16 more brothers in this locker room. So I understood the importance of being there for them, focusing on my responsibilities, and striving to perform at my best.”