Michael Porter Jr. didn’t need to say it. The afternoon already carried enough weight.
Sunday marked his first game as a Net facing his former team, the Denver Nuggets, since last summer’s trade. Denver moved on from him as part of a salary-clearing deal, but in Brooklyn, the veteran forward has reinvented himself, averaging 25.8 points and 7.5 rebounds across his first 26 appearances while shooting 49.6% from the field and 41% from deep.
Porter’s not just producing in Brooklyn, he’s emerging as an All-Star candidate. And Nets head coach Jordi Fernández understood the extra meaning behind Sunday’s matchup and didn’t shy away from it.
“If I [were] in his shoes, I would be very excited to play this game,” Fernández said. “And I have no doubt in my mind that he’s going to go out there and perform on both ends. So, it’s an exciting, exciting day for for all of us, especially for him.”
Porter returned after missing the Nets’ previous two games with an illness, but Fernández made it clear there would be no limitations.
“He’s feeling great,” Fernández said. “He did a lot of work yesterday to make sure that he was ready to go. He hasn’t felt great the last few days, and he feels much better. So, no retributions or anything because he hasn’t lost conditioning or so forth. So, if he has a little bit of discomfort still, maybe, he’ll just fight through it. It’s who Mike is. He’s had a lot of discomfort and things that he’s had to deal and he always performs. We’re excited to have him back.”
Cam Johnson, the player Brooklyn sent to Denver, has had a difficult season and is currently sidelined with a right knee bone bruise. He did not make the trip to Brooklyn for Sunday’s game. Nikola Jokić was also ruled out because of a left knee bone bruise, forcing the Nuggets to prepare without the league’s most reliable offensive engine. Still, Fernández emphasized that the Nets’ focus remained sharp, particularly when it came to Jamal Murray, whose presence alone demands plenty of attention.
Fernández knows Murray as well as anyone. Their relationship traces back to Denver and extended onto the international stage with Team Canada.
“Honestly I had him there because I really trusted him, because of our previous relationship in Denver,” Fernández said. “He’s a guy that I not just have a lot of respect for, but I as a fan enjoy watching him play because his competitive nature is unbelievable. I haven’t seen many players like him.”
Sunday’s game also carried personal meaning for Fernández beyond Porter. It marked a reunion with David Adelman, who took over as Denver’s head coach after Michael Malone was fired last season. Both once served as assistants on Malone’s staff.
“I would not be in the position that I am today without my experience with that coaching staff,” Fernández said. “Personally, a lot of love for D.A., because I’ve learned so much from him, but also, I spent a lot of time with him and his family. You don’t forget where you come from.”
