Otto Porter Jr. celebrates from a double decker bus during the Golden State Warriors NBA Championship victory parade along Market Street on June 20, 2022 in San Francisco, California. – Tens of thousands of fans poured onto the streets of San Francisco on Monday to salute the victorious Golden State Warriors as the team celebrated its fourth NBA championship in eight seasons with an open-top bus parade. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Former Golden State Warriors forward Otto Porter Jr. explained his decision to play for the Toronto Raptors instead of returning to the Bay Area.
It’s all too common for players who made a name on a championship roster to leave for greener pastures, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. With several Warriors “stung” by the fact that the team didn’t match to keep Gary Payton II, players and fans alike were dealt another blow when Otto Porter Jr. decided to sign with the Raptors instead.
Considering the rumors about how Kevin Durant felt when he left the Bay, it’s understandable that fans would wonder if Porter left because of something happening behind the scenes. Warriors fans can rest easy knowing that although he’s headed north, Otto Porter Jr. thoroughly enjoyed his season in San Francisco.
“It was tough, obviously, winning a championship there,” Porter said of Golden State. “I think a lot of guys were expecting everybody to be back to run at it again. It was a tough decision. But I’m locked in with those guys for life. We had an unbelievable year.”
Otto Porter Jr. leaves Warriors for Raptors with nothing but good memories
Although Porter had a tough time leaving a fantastic situation behind, there are valid reasons for why he chose to continue his NBA career in Toronto.
“I played against Toronto a lot being in Washington D.C. [with the Wizards]. Love the city,” Porter said. “My wife is from here. It just makes sense.”
“This is a new opportunity for me to come to Toronto and have aspirations to win a championship here,” he continued.
Porter was drafted by the Washington Wizards in the 2013 NBA Draft and spent six years there until he was traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2019. The Raptors will be Porter’s fifth NBA franchise in his career, joining teammates such as Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet on a team that won their own NBA Championship in 2019 over the Warriors.