Michael Porter Jr. is as known for his elite talent as he is for his family’s headline-grabbing history. Growing up in a household of eight siblings, MPJ's journey has been shaped by both immense basketball success and the shocking legal troubles involving his brothers.
From the controversial takes and head-scratching comments to his outstanding play on the court, Michael Porter Jr. is a fascinating figure for NBA fans to follow.
However, many people don't know that he has four brothers—Jontay, Coban, Jevon, and Izaak—each with their own wild stories that have shocked the basketball world.
Let’s dive into 6 crazy facts about the Michael Porter Jr. brothers.
1. Coban was sentenced to six years in prison for killing a woman
The younger brother of Michael Porter, Coban Porter, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2024 for a drunk driving crash that killed a woman in Colorado.
According to The Denver Post, prosecutors said Porter had been speeding and had a blood alcohol level of .19—more than twice the legal limit of .08.
In February, Porter pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and vehicular assault as part of a plea agreement that reduced his potential sentence to a maximum of eight years.
Before the crash, Coban Porter was a freshman on the University of Denver men's basketball team, averaging 11.4 points per game during the 2021–22 season.
2. Jontay was banned from the NBA for gambling
Probably the most well-known story about Michael Porter Jr.'s siblings involves Jontay Porter, who was banned from the NBA for betting on games, sharing insider information with gamblers, and pretending to be ill to influence bets.
Jontay spent two years in the NBA showing promise as a potential role player for several franchises, but since his ban, his basketball career appears to be over.
Jontay Porter
Jontay Porter
Credit AP Photo/David Zalubowski - Scanpix
In the federal case on July 10, 2024, Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charge carries a potential sentence ranging from no prison time up to 20 years, though he is most likely facing 41 to 51 months in prison.
As part of his guilty plea, Porter was required to forfeit his passport during pre-sentence release, which prevented him from playing overseas in Greece.
Following his ban, the NBA implemented what became known as the "Jontay Porter Rule," which prohibits sportsbooks from including unders on player prop bets for players on two-way contracts or 10-day contracts.
3. Jevon was arrested on suspicion of DWI
Another younger brother of Michael Porter Jr., Jevon Porter, has also faced serious legal trouble.
The current Missouri Tigers forward was arrested in April 2024 on suspicion of DWI.
The news was particularly shocking as it came just two weeks after Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA and only days after Coban Porter was sentenced to six years in prison for a drunk-driving crash that killed a woman.
Jevon Porter
Jevon Porter
Credit AP - Scanpix
After transferring to Missouri for the 2025-26 season—following a season at Loyola Marymount and two years at Pepperdine—Jevon is currently having an up-and-down season, averaging 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
4. Izaak is the only brother who hasn't had legal trouble yet
The youngest Porter brother, Izaak, has followed in his older siblings' footsteps and is playing college basketball at Lake Land College.
Although there isn't much public information about Izaak yet, he stands out as the only Porter brother to have avoided controversy and serious legal trouble so far.
5. Michael Porter Jr is the only one in his family who eats meat
One of the most interesting facts about the Michael Porter Jr. family is that they all grew up as vegetarians.
While MPJ eventually incorporated meat into his diet to help build muscle, his brothers reportedly still follow a vegetarian lifestyle.
Michael Porter Jr.
Michael Porter Jr.
Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix
Michael shared a story with The Athletic in 2020 about the moment he tried meat for the first time. In the fall of 2018, just a few months after being drafted by the Denver Nuggets, he joined some teammates for breakfast at Snooze, one of Denver's most popular spots.
Porter ordered a "Plant Power" menu item to stick with his vegan diet, while his teammates went for something else: bacon. Maybe it was the smell or the perfectly crispy appearance of the bacon, but Porter decided to take a bite. "There was no going back," he said. "It was just so good."
To his surprise, he didn't experience any stomach issues after tasting meat, so he moved on to chicken wings. "It was downhill from there," Porter admitted.
6. The Porter brothers got the basketball talent from their mother
Lisa Porter, the mother of the Porter brothers, may be the most accomplished basketball player in the family.
During the 1982-83 season at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School, she averaged an astonishing 58.7 points per game.
After high school, Lisa continued her dominance at the University of Iowa, scoring over 1,300 points in her collegiate career.
She led the Hawkeyes to their first Big Ten title and an NCAA tournament appearance, while also setting a school record by connecting on 58.4 percent of her shots as a freshman in the 1983-84 season.
Michael Porter Jr. has often credited his mother’s 6'4" stature and legendary scoring touch as the true source of his and his brothers' basketball talents, once remarking that she was "the best out of all of us."
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Edvinas Kuzas
Edvinas Kuzas began his basketball media career in 2025, joining BasketNews as a Daily Writer. He brings a deep understanding of the sport, shaped by years of following both its history and trending topics. Alongside his writing, he is currently pursuing a degree in basketball coaching, further expanding his knowledge of the game. This combination allows him to provide more analytical, insightful, and opinion-based perspectives on basketball.
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