Denver Nuggets Star Michael Porter Jr. is feeling the pinch from the business side of the NBA.
Basketball is a passion for many professional players, but there’s no avoiding the money, risk and stress involved. Porter, who was one of the top players in his high school class, admits he sometimes struggles to stay motivated because of the money involved.
“I would have played this game for free as long as I could eat. I loved it,” Porter shared on an episode of the Austin River podcast Out of custody“Money sometimes makes it a little harder to enjoy the game because with a max contract comes a lot of expectations of consistency. Oh, you’re supposed to be an All-Star, you’re supposed to be this, you’re supposed to be that.”
That level of transparency is something that many of the league’s stars likely appreciate. Fans tend to have a hard time accepting the idea that these millionaires still have to deal with life’s challenges, like finding motivation and achieving happiness. Porter’s comment was met with a strong reaction on social mediathe public wondering why he is concerned about his financial situation.
Porter signed a five-year contract with the Nuggets in 2021which was potentially worth up to $207 million. Instead, the 26-year-old is making $172 million because he wasn’t selected to an All-NBA team the following season.
The hope for the Nuggets is that Porter finds motivation in bringing Denver its second championship in the last three years.
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