Michael Porter Jr. is entering a contract season with the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets. Despite his career-best 2025-26 campaign during which he was in the All-Star conversation, the Nets have yet to sign him to an extension as they open training camp.
Porter feels he has more to prove to Brooklyn's front office to earn his next deal.
“Yeah, of course. There’s always more to show,” he said. “The main thing is winning. Who cares about putting up 20-plus points per game if you’re not winning? So I've got a lot more I want to show and prove. One of the big things is being a winning player in this role. I think we can win a lot of games with me being a focal point on offense. So we just gotta win, and it will take care of itself.”
Asked MPJ whether he feels he has more to prove to the Nets' front office to earn the contract he wants:
“Yeah, of course. There’s always more to show. The main thing is winning. Who cares about putting up 20-plus points per game if you’re not winning? So I've got a lot more I… pic.twitter.com/bbHibMA3jX
— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) September 30, 2026
Porter had a career-best statistical season in 2025-26 while filling a lead offensive role. While the Nets finished with the NBA's third-worst record, much of their losing was by design as they jockeyed for position in a loaded 2026 draft. To Porter's credit, Brooklyn was respectable when he was on the floor.
The Nets' most used lineup — Egor Demin, Terance Mann, Porter, Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton — posted a +2.2 net rating in 307 minutes. Porter's offensive production drove that success.
How can Michael Porter Jr. earn new contract during second season with Nets?
The 27-year-old averaged 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists on .463/.363/.859 shooting splits across 52 appearances. He posted a +9.8 offensive rating swing (team points scored per 100 possessions with a player on vs. off), the NBA's seventh-highest among all players who played over 400 minutes, per CleaningTheGlass.
Still, Porter's defense, a main criticism of his game during his Denver Nuggets tenure, often left much to be desired. The veteran forward's offensive production also dropped off steeply during the second half of the year after he didn't make the All-Star team. Following the season, Porter admitted that his focus and effort slipped after his All-Star snub.
Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks pointed to Porter's defensive engagement and leadership when asked what more the Nets must see to commit to him long-term.
“First and foremost, you gotta give the coaching staff a lot of credit [for Mike's production last year]. Not only what they did for Michael, but for the whole roster,” Marks said at Nets Media Day. “As Jordi said, you want guys playing above where maybe the herd or we value them at. So for Mike to come in here and own that opportunity that he had and have a great year, I think we’re looking for consistency for him. We’re looking for him to take another step on the defensive end, rebounding. Just become a more complete player. And the other thing is, what can you do with the intangibles? That’s important for us in the locker room. That doesn't just go for Mike, but for all the guys, specifically the guys who are a little bit older, who have seen it, been around it. What’s their leadership like? Can they take another step in that category? Mike knows that. We’re expecting big things from him [and the other veterans].”
Asked Sean Marks what more the Nets have to see from Michael Porter Jr. to commit to him long-term:
“First and foremost, you gotta give the coaching staff a lot of credit [for Mike's production last year]. Not only what they did for Michael, but for the whole roster. As Jordi… pic.twitter.com/MrF2NNXb8S
— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) September 28, 2026
Porter will have an opportunity to improve in those areas while filling a lead role alongside Julius Randle to open the season. Brooklyn will likely decide whether to extend or trade him ahead of the Feb. 11 trade deadline.