The Brooklyn Nets may be rebuilding, but they haven’t given up on firepower. In a recent quote shared with the media, a team executive suggested that new addition Michael Porter Jr. could make a run at the NBA scoring title this season. While he stopped short of declaring MPJ the outright favorite, the belief in his offensive ceiling was loud and clear.
“We’re transitioning our roster, of course,” said a Nets executive to Hoops Wire. “We’re going to play a lot of young players. But we need some vets to balance that. And, of course, we need to score some points. Porter will help us a ton there. I’m not saying he’ll win the scoring title, but I think it could be close.”
The Nets are feeling surprisingly optimistic for a team that’s still a few years removed from losing three superstars. While they are still actively rebuilding, with no true franchise superstar, they have an interesting mix of mid-level role players and budding young prospects ready to contribute.
In the 2025-26 campaign, with Michael Porter Jr. leading the way, they have a chance to take another step toward relevance in the Eastern Conference. Coming from the Nuggets, Porter Jr. built up a habit for scoring in a variety of ways with career averages of 16.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on 50.0% shooting.
With another two years and $79 million left on his deal, Michael probably thought he was staying with the Nuggets for the foreseeable future, but now he has a fresh opportunity to lead in Brooklyn—potentially as the team’s top scoring option.
As a former lottery pick with undeniable offensive skills, there are plenty of reasons to believe in a resurgence for Porter Jr. First of all, at just 27 years old, he’s just hitting the prime of his career after years of learning and growing under Nikola Jokic (the best player in the NBA).
On a team with no expectations, Porter Jr. also gets to experience freedom like he never has before. He’ll be playing for a Nets team that’s completely up for grabs, and with more than enough space to try his hand at being a leader on the court. With teammates like Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas, and Terance Mann, Michael will have a strong and balanced support system that may be able to play above their station. Of course, MPJ will have to grow in other areas, namely defense and playmaking, if he’s going to take the leap from elite shooter to full-fledged star.
As for the scoring title, it’s an undeniably ambitious goal for Porter Jr. The previous three scoring leaders (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Joel Embiid) all averaged at least 32 points per game, but the most Porter Jr. has ever averaged in a season is 19.0 per game during the 2020-21 season (the only time he’s averaged over 18 points per game in his career). To ask him to nearly double his point total in a single season is tough, especially when it’s his first time with a new team. Nonetheless, the Nets have confidence that Michael can elevate his game to a higher level.
Whether or not he truly contends for the scoring title, the opportunity ahead of Porter Jr. is undeniable. For the first time in his career, he’ll have the green light to hunt shots, shoulder the offensive load, and define his team’s identity. If he stays healthy and embraces the challenge, Brooklyn may finally have its next breakout star—one who could change the trajectory of the franchise and his own legacy in the process.
