Michael Porter Jr. may be one of the highest-paid players in the NBA, but that doesn't mean he's taking care of every bill in his personal life.
During a recent appearance on Respectfully The Justin Laboy Show, the Brooklyn Nets forward revealed that him and his ex-girlfriend split rent even though his current contract is worth more than $200 million. Porter explained his reasoning as wanting to know if the woman is "here for the right intention." Laboy jokingly called Porter "cheap," but the 26-year-old went on to clarify that his approach isn't about money, but about testing intentions.
"It's very hard when you have money to tell a woman's intentions," Porter explained. "I had never bought a girl expensive gifts before this last girl. And it was cool to do… but I still wanted to know that she was with me for the right reasons. Every dude in this particular person's past had money. So I never wanted to feel like a girl was just with me because of what I have."
Porter, who emphasized he won't live with a partner until marriage, said the rent-splitting situation came up when his ex-girlfriend was apartment hunting. She found a place she loved, but it was double her price range.
"This is really nice. I want you to be able to stay here… what can you afford and I'll split it. I'll pay the rest," Porter recalled. He said he committed to covering the difference for a year, regardless of whether their relationship lasted. However, the two broke up five or six months later, leaving Porter unsure about what to do next. "I'm like, man, do I keep helping her out or is it cooked?" he said.
While some fans may see his approach as frugal, Porter framed it as a way to ensure authenticity in relationships. "At the end of the day, a man is supposed to provide for a woman," he said. "But I still want to know she's in this for the right reasons."
Porter's latest take is just one of many he's said throughout the NBA off-season. One of the most viral came last month when he stated his child would break his heart based on their hypothetical sexual orientation or lifestyle.
"Would I rather have a thot daughter or gay son? I'm not gonna hold you bro, both of them would hurt a n***a heart, dog. I'm not going to lie, either one," Porter said during the stream.