Michael Porter Jr. and Jason Lee went deep on topics rarely discussed by NBA players, from sexuality and MPJ’s viral Taiwan story to fame, controversy, and the pressure that comes with being in the public eye.
Michael Porter Jr. recently opened the door to a much different side of himself.
The Brooklyn Nets forward welcomed media personality Jason Lee to his podcast, Curious Mike, for a wide-ranging conversation that covered everything from sexuality and religion to Hollywood, cancel culture, fame, and the growing number of athletes entering the podcast space.
The 99-minute conversation was one of the more candid episodes of the podcast, with Porter and Lee frequently joking with each other while also discussing some serious topics.
One of the biggest discussions centered around Porter’s views on LGBTQ+ issues and a viral story involving Porter that had previously made its way around social media.
Porter recalled a trip to Taiwan where he met a woman through social media, with a photo of the two later sparking speculation about whether the woman was transgender. Porter said he never knew for certain and chose not to address the situation publicly at the time.
Lee, who is openly gay, used the conversation to discuss how his own views on sexuality have evolved and why he believes people should be allowed to define themselves.
Porter also opened up about his own upbringing, admitting that he had been “borderline homophobic” growing up because he had little exposure to LGBTQ+ relationships. He explained that meeting more gay and lesbian people after moving around the country changed his perspective.
The conversation eventually shifted toward Lee’s career and how he built Hollywood Unlocked into a major media platform.
Lee explained that the company began with an Instagram account, $100, and a desire to give fans a closer look at celebrities. He also discussed the difficult balance between maintaining relationships with celebrities and still covering stories involving people he knows personally.
That included an example involving former NBA player Serge Ibaka. Lee said he had a personal relationship with Ibaka but still published a story involving the former NBA player after discovering that a woman had been photographed inside a home Lee recognized as Ibaka’s.
Lee also addressed the infamous 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock, confirming that Smith did, in fact, slap Rock and arguing that people should be allowed to make mistakes without having their entire careers erased.
“Cancel culture” became a recurring theme throughout the episode, with Lee explaining why he has embraced controversy rather than trying to maintain a perfect public image.
The conversation also turned toward WNBA controversy, with Lee criticizing former player Enes Kanter Freedom for his courtside behavior toward WNBA players. Lee argued that someone can have an opinion about transgender athletes competing in women's sports without resorting to heckling or disrespecting the players themselves.
Porter also asked Lee about athletes entering the podcast space. Lee said he believes there is an oversaturation of celebrity podcasts but praised Porter for being willing to have conversations that many athletes might avoid.
Toward the end of the episode, Lee encouraged Porter to continue giving himself the freedom to speak openly, saying that authenticity can be a person's greatest strength.
The two also played a game of “Post It or Delete It,” with Lee deciding whether Hollywood Unlocked would publish hypothetical celebrity headlines. Naturally, several of the scenarios involved Porter himself, leading to plenty of jokes between the two.
Lee ultimately said he would choose money over fame, explaining that fame comes with a level of scrutiny that most people do not fully understand.
He also revealed that despite everything he has already accomplished, he is still focused on expanding his business, getting into scripted projects, writing more books, and continuing to build.
And if everything he had built disappeared?
Lee believes he could do it all again.
“I can build it again,” he said.
For Porter, the episode provided an opportunity to show a more conversational side of himself while tackling subjects that NBA players typically do not discuss publicly.
It also made clear what he appears to want Curious Mike to become: a place where he can have conversations that go beyond basketball and give listeners a look at the person behind the athlete.
