I had to swim dumb far, bro”: Michael Porter Jr.’s jet ski fall revealed his secret swimming talent

Michael Porter Jr. is getting ready for his second run with the Brooklyn Nets, but during a recent chat on the PLYR2PLYR podcast, he opened up about what he might do if basketball didn’t work out: swimming.

It turns out, the NBA star has the perfect build for it, and a recent vacation mishap proved just how good he is in the water. Porter Jr. explained that while hanging out in Europe, he took a ride on a jet ski. Big mistake. He wiped out right in the middle of the water and, to make things worse, forgot his life jacket.

“I had to swim dumb far, bro. Dumb far,” Porter Jr. laughed, explaining how the long swim gave him a sudden confidence in his athletic abilities. He realized he could probably hold his own against actual competitive swimmers.

Of course, swimming might just stay a hobby for now, especially since Porter Jr. is currently on the hook for $40.8 million with the Nets. He pointed out the strict rules in NBA contracts when it comes to off-season activities. Riding jet skis, cruising on Bird scooters, or hitting the ski slopes can actually get a player’s contract voided if they suffer a career-ending injury.

“Dudes want to live their life,” Porter Jr. noted, admitting that guys still take those risks, but the threat of losing massive money is always looming. Before the NBA draft, back in his high school days, Porter Jr. actually used swimming as a key part of his training. He loved doing freestyle and breaststroke laps, finding it way better for his conditioning than just running. For now, though, he will stick to the hardwood and save the poolside heroics for vacations.