Porter Jr. says he split rent with ex-girlfriend during $207 million contract extension

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. disclosed on the Respectfully The Justin Laboy Show this month that he split rent with an ex-girlfriend during the year he agreed to a five-year extension worth up to $207 million with the Nuggets in 2021.

Porter said he encouraged her to rent an apartment beyond her price range and would cover half the rent for that year, even though they were not living together. He said the aim was to confirm that her intentions were genuine, noting that past relationships with wealthier partners had complicated his assessment of commitment. He described the mindset as trying to ensure she was with him for the right reasons. Around five months into the rental term the couple broke up, but Porter said he has continued paying his share because he was the cause of the breakup.

The financial details surrounding Porter’s extension remain a backdrop to the admission. In 2021, Porter agreed to a five-year extension worth up to $207 million with the Nuggets. The Nets later acquired Porter in June, picking up the final two years of his contract, which include $38.3 million due this coming season and $40.8 million the following year.

Last season, Porter started 77 games for the Nuggets and averaged 18.2 points per game, marking one of the best seasons of his career as he helped the team reach the playoffs and maintain a high level of production. His move to the Nets in June placed him in a new market with different expectations, while the contract structure remains front and center in discussions about his finances and on-court role.

The rarely disclosed personal-finance detail adds another dimension to Porter’s public profile as he continues to navigate a high-earning, high-expectation phase of his career. As he approaches the new seasons with the Nets, teams and fans will watch how his performance evolves alongside the ongoing scrutiny of his personal decisions.