Michael Porter Jr. has never been shy about his confidence, and his latest comments prove it. On a recent episode of the Glory Daze Podcast, Porter said exactly what Los Angeles Lakers fans did not want to hear.
Michael Porter Jr.:
“Lakers fans always thought they could beat us, but they never did…I always cooked the Lakers” 😳
(via @glorydazepod) pic.twitter.com/TgyB6aF5oJ
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 22, 2025
“I always had good series against the Lakers. I don’t know what it was, but I always cooked the Lakers,” MPJ stated. To be fair, he is not exactly wrong. During his time with the Denver Nuggets, Porter became a real problem for the Lakers, especially in the postseason.
Across 14 playoff games against Los Angeles, Porter Jr. averaged 16.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, shooting a blistering 44.8 percent from beyond the arc. Those were not empty stats either; he hit plenty of big shots, made momentum-changing plays, and helped push the Denver Nuggets past Los Angeles when it mattered most.
Porter Jr. casually omits the definitive element of Lakers rivalry
The Nuggets and Lakers met in the playoffs three times during Porter’s Denver stint. In the 2020 Western Conference Finals, the Lakers won in five games en route to their bubble championship. But after that? It was all Denver.
They were able to sweep the Lakers in 2023 during the Western Conference Finals. They knocked them out again in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, winning in five games.
Now, with MPJ traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cam Johnson, Lakers fans finally have a chance to exhale. Yes, Porter’s stats against the Lakers were efficient. Yes, he had big moments. But let’s not forget why he was such a threat: he had the luxury of playing alongside the multiple-time MVP winner, Nikola Jokic.
When you have a three-time MVP pulling defenders in every direction, it is a lot easier to get clean looks. Unfortunately for MPJ that will not be the case in Brooklyn. Porter will be stepping into a completely different role in the Eastern Conference.
That same freedom he had in Denver will not be guaranteed. It will be on him now to create his own shots and lead, not just finish.
Meanwhile, Lakers fans do not have to deal with MPJ nearly as often. Instead, they will face Johnson, a solid shooter but not the same kind of matchup nightmare (at least that is what the hope is).
So while Porter can talk his talk, the real test comes when Brooklyn meets Los Angeles on Feb. 3. Can he “cook” the Lakers without Jokic serving the ingredients? We will find out soon enough.