Michael Porter Jr., Floyd Mayweather link up in LA to support over 60 kids who lost families in tragic Oct. 7 Israel attack: Reports
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. linked up with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in Los Angeles on Monday to show support to over 60 kids who lost immediate family during the tragic Israel attack on Oct. 7.
According to TMZ, the athletes came together at the LA home of billionaire Israeli-American businessman Haim Saban and hung out with the kids. They signed autographs, took photos and offered encouragement.
"When we saw all the celebrities, it felt really good," a teenager said. "We see a lot of famous people are hating against Israel. But it's so good to see that there's still famous people, good people who support Israel and support us. I lost my dad on Oct. 7, and this makes my heart warm."
The event "LA with Love" was put on by Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and also featured Miami Heat star Tyler Herro and LA Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt. In addition to the kids, family members of several IDF soldiers and commanders who were killed in the subsequent war in Gaza were also present at the event.
Michael Porter Jr. admits NBA money makes it harder to enjoy the game
On a recent episode of the "Off Guard with Austin Rivers" podcast, Porter touched on the effects of the business side of the NBA. The Nuggets forward spoke of the expectations tied to making the NBA money and how it often makes it harder for him to enjoy the game.
"I would have played this game for free as long as I could eat. I loved it," Porter said. "The money sometimes makes it a little bit harder to enjoy the game because with a max contract comes a lot of expectations on consistency. 'Oh, you’re supposed to be an All-Star, you’re supposed to be this, that.'"
Porter signed a five-year, $172.6 million maximum rookie scale contract extension with the Denver Nuggets in 2021. Ever since re-signing, Porter has been a reliable third option for the Nuggets' scoring behind reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
In the previous season, the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists through the 81 games he played in the regular season while shooting 48.4% from the field. Porter was also huge for their championship run in 2023, coming through for the team during high-stakes situations.
While he shared that NBA money is not all rosy, Porter has handled the pressure and stepped up for the team when called upon. As a professional athlete, Porter will be required to keep up or further elevate his efficiency in the upcoming season with the Nuggets looking for another championship with their winning pieces intact.