Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. finds himself facing a difficult personal situation even as his team prepares to defend their NBA title. Recent off-court events involving his brothers Jontay and Coban Porter have taken a toll on the young athlete.

On Wednesday, the league announced a lifetime ban for Jontay Porter due to his involvement in betting on NBA games and disclosing confidential information to sports bettors. Then, on Friday, news broke that Coban Porter has been sentenced to six years in prison for a DUI crash that claimed the life of a woman back in 2023.

Understandably, Porter Jr. was absent from practice on Friday as he attended Coban's sentencing. However, his absence did not go unnoticed, with Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone and Porter Jr.'s teammates acknowledging the weight on his shoulders.

Coach Malone expressed admiration for Porter Jr.'s resilience, saying, "It has not been easy for him... For him to go out there and do the job that he's doing, it speaks to how much strength that young man has."

Porter Jr. himself spoke at his brother's sentencing, highlighting the impact his younger brother had on his own career. "I truly don't think I'd be in the position I am today as a professional basketball player without a brother like Coban pushing me every day," he shared. "He would get up earlier than me, work out harder than me. I know it's not often that a big brother looks up to a younger brother, but that is how it was for me."

The NBA star also revealed that he was the first to be informed about the fatal car crash, describing how the police officers contacted him that fateful morning. Porter Jr. expressed empathy towards the victim's family, stating, "I understand your family's pain and hurt... I know that if I were in your shoes and it was reversed, I would have a lot of feelings as well."

Teammate Jamal Murray expressed his support for Porter Jr., noting that while they had not talked directly about the situations, the team stands behind him as he navigates his family matters. "We're just keeping it professional here and we all support him. He's handling it really well. Obviously, it's not easy. But yeah, we're just letting him deal with it."

Despite the turmoil, Porter Jr. is expected to be in the starting lineup for the Nuggets as they kick off their title defense against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Throughout the season, Porter Jr. has been a crucial asset for Denver, ranking as the team's third-leading scorer with an average of 16.7 points and seven rebounds per game, while also setting a personal record for the most games played in his career, with 81.

As the Nuggets set their sights on another championship run, the team rallies behind Porter Jr., understanding the challenges he faces both on and off the court.