The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets have had some great playoff battles over the years. Recently, they have met each other three of the last five times the Lakers made the playoffs.
Los Angeles won one of those series en route to their NBA Championship in the bubble. The Nuggets have had all of the success recently, and one player in particular has played some of his best basketball.
On a recent episode of the Glory Daze Podcast with Johnny Manziel, former Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. spoke about his time in Denver and his success against the Lakers.
Michael Porter Jr. Speaks On Cooking The Los Angeles Lakers
Porter Jr. spoke about how he loved going up against the Purple and Gold.
“I used to love those series against the Lakers… They always thought they could beat us, but they never did… I don’t know what it was, but I always cooked the Lakers.”
"I used to love those series' against the Lakers… They always thought they could beat us but they never did… I don't know what it was but I always cooked the Lakers."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 22, 2025
Michael Porter Jr. looks back on facing LeBron & the Lakers 🤣
(via @glorydazepod)pic.twitter.com/8HIaD8rsnm
In the 2022-2023 season, the Lakers met the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. Denver swept LA 4-0 and went on to beat the Miami Heat for their first NBA Championship in team history.
The two teams would meet again the very next year in the first round. Denver would send the Lakers home, winning the series 4-1.
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During the podcast, Porter Jr. would then go on to praise LeBron James.
“But those series against ‘Bron were dope. He’s the epitome of greatness in sports… When you have so much respect for someone like I do for LeBron, and to be able to go head-to-head, and come out on top, it was lit, I’m not even gonna lie.”
Porter Jr. was a part of a blockbuster trade this summer that sent him to the Brooklyn Nets. If he wants to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs again, it will have to come in the NBA Finals.