Porter Jr. spends $200-$250 a day on Ubers as Nets adjust to New York

New Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. said he has been spending about $200 to $250 a day on Uber rides as he acclimates to New York, a detail he shared during Brooklyn’s media day on Sept. 23, 2025. Porter, who was traded to Brooklyn in July in the deal that sent Cam Johnson to the Nuggets, is expected to be the centerpiece of a young Nets roster this season. Nets coach Jordi Fernandez described him as an elite shooter and said Porter will be asked to take on new responsibilities as the team builds around him. "The traffic is tough," Porter said. "I shipped a car out here, I was thinking, can I drive? I ended up being like no. The $200-$250 a day of Ubering is worth it out here. New York is different, but I’m adjusting to the city."

Porter averaged 18.2 points on 50.4% shooting from the field and 39.5% from three-point range with the Nuggets in the 2024-25 season. He is slated to earn $38 million this season, and Brooklyn is counting on him as the focal point of a young roster. Fernandez, via the Associated Press, added that Porter has a previous relationship with him that should help him settle in, and that he plans to push Porter to do things he’s never done before. "The good thing is I have a previous relationship with him, and that makes it a little easier for me. But I am going to ask him to do things he’s never done before, and for those reasons I think he’s up for the challenge."

Porter drew attention in the offseason for comments he made on a podcast and livestreams that were criticized as misogynistic and homophobic, a storm that followed him into media day. He will try to channel the attention into on-court production as Brooklyn builds around a promising, young core. The Nets are hoping Porter’s outside shooting and scoring versatility can help accelerate a rebuild and establish him as a leadership figure on a roster that features growing talents and a new coaching regime.

As Brooklyn moves into the season, the questions will focus on how Porter adapts to a new city, a new role, and heightened expectations after a productive 2024-25 campaign with Denver. The parallels to a fresh start are clear, and the Nets are betting that Porter can be a steady scorer and a focal point behind a developing supporting cast. If the numbers translate to the court and the off-court scrutiny subsides, the Nets could have a clearer path to relevance in a crowded Eastern Conference.