Peyton Watson is ready to put the Denver chapter behind him. On Michael Porter Jr.’s podcast, Watson opened up about his hamstring injury, the criticism he faced for missing the playoffs and his next chapter with the Cavaliers.
Michael Porter Jr. and Peyton Watson spent plenty of time together during their years with the Denver Nuggets, but their latest conversation gave fans a different look at their relationship.
Watson, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers after leaving Denver this offseason, joined Porter’s “Curious Mike” podcast for an extended conversation about his path to the NBA, his time with the Nuggets, and his next chapter away from Denver. The former teammate of current Brooklyn Nets forward Porter also opened up about his injury-plagued end to last season and the circumstances surrounding his eventual departure.
The two former teammates also spent plenty of time talking about their friendship and what it was like watching each other develop. Porter recalled meeting Watson shortly after he was drafted by Denver and inviting him to dinner before the two got into the gym early the next morning.
Watson joked that Porter “tore my ass up” during their first one-on-one session. It was an early lesson for Watson about the level he needed to reach, and it pushed him to get stronger, improve his shooting, and put in even more work.
The conversation went back even further when Watson talked about his time at UCLA. He arrived as one of the top recruits in the country and expected to have a major role right away, but things didn't go that way.
Watson struggled to find consistent playing time and admitted that the experience affected his confidence. At the same time, he said it gave him more motivation and helped create the chip on his shoulder that he carried into the NBA.
Once he got to Denver, Watson had to work his way up again. He spent significant time in the G League during his first season before eventually earning more opportunities with the Nuggets.
He also talked about learning under former head coach Michael Malone. One story that stood out came during Denver’s playoff run, when Malone called Watson out in front of the team after he couldn't name a play the Nuggets had been running repeatedly.
Watson said he was embarrassed and angry in the moment, but looking back, he believes it forced him to pay much closer attention to the details of the game.
The toughest part of the conversation came when Watson addressed his hamstring injury and the criticism he received for not playing in the playoffs.
Watson explained that his initial Grade 2 hamstring strain required a four-to-six-week recovery. He returned, only to re-injure the same area late in the regular season. Another MRI showed another Grade 2 strain, and Watson said he was only around 75% healthy when the playoffs arrived.
“I just didn’t feel healthy,” Watson said.
That didn't stop the criticism from coming his way.
Watson pushed back on the idea that he chose not to play because he was worried about his upcoming contract. He explained that his agent, Rich Paul, was essentially “protecting me from myself,” because Watson was still thinking about trying to come back despite not being fully healthy.
“If we got to the second round, I was 100% planning on playing,” Watson said. “There was nobody in the world that was going to stop me from playing in the second round. I just wasn’t healthy enough.”
Porter agreed with Watson’s decision. He said that if he were in a contract year and dealing with the same injury, he would have protected himself rather than risk making the problem even worse.
The two also addressed some of the other stories that followed Watson during his contract negotiations, including speculation that he was upset about Christian Braun’s contract.
Porter dismissed that idea, pointing out that Watson and Braun entered the league together and that Watson had always been supportive of his teammate.
Watson eventually left Denver in a sign-and-trade with Cleveland, agreeing to a four-year, $88 million deal with the Cavaliers. He admitted that leaving was bittersweet after spending the first four years of his career with the Nuggets, winning a championship and building close relationships inside the organization.
Now, Watson has his sights set on what comes next.
He said he wants to prove that he can be a starting-caliber player on a championship contender while continuing to expand his offensive game without losing what made him valuable defensively.
Watson also talked about the importance of opportunity. He believes his breakout stretch last season showed what he can do when he's given a bigger role, especially after Denver dealt with injuries to several key players.
Away from basketball, Watson revealed that he has another goal he wants to accomplish. He wants to return to UCLA and finish his degree, something his parents have encouraged him to do.
For Porter, the episode was also a chance to catch up with someone he considers one of his closest friends. The two spent years working together in Denver, and this time, Watson was able to tell his side of a complicated final chapter with the Nuggets.
