Denver Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has spoken to Michael Porter Jr. about the second-year forward, saying that the coronavirus pandemic “is being used for population control.”
Connelly did not make a statement, but Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said he learned of Porter’s comments, which were made in a Snapchat question-and-answer session, when he boarded the team bus to practice the Wednesday morning.
“Obviously, I’m not the thinking police,” Malone said during a Zoom session with reporters. “I will not tell any of our players what they can and cannot say. All I would say is that we are only sensitive to the current situation in our country and around the world regarding the coronavirus.”
“Michael Porter and any other player on our roster are entitled to their views and ability to have freedom of expression, and I will respect that as long as it doesn’t become a distraction. What Michael said, being around our players this morning in breakfast and practice has not become a distraction at all. “
Porter’s comments made the headlines as the death toll from coronavirus approached 150,000 in the United States and stood at 661,917 worldwide on Wednesday.
“Personally, I think the coronavirus is obviously being used for a bigger agenda,” Porter, 22, said on Snapchat. “It is being used for population control in terms of being able to control the masses of people. I mean, because of the virus, everyone is being controlled.”
“You must wear masks,” added Porter. “And who knows what will happen when this vaccine comes out? You may have to be vaccinated in order to travel. That would be crazy.”
Malone has repeatedly advocated that his players speak their minds about nationwide protests against police brutality and that they not allow NBA games to distract from the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Nuggets coach said he would not “silence” any of his players to express their beliefs. But he and the Nuggets will continue to try to educate players to be informed before talking about the issues.
“I know Tim Connelly, our main office, has spoken to Michael about his comments long before I realized what was said,” said Malone. “So it has been [discussed with] he; He understands the situation. Again, we as an organization will not muzzle anyone.
“If someone strongly believes in something, they have the platform and the freedom to use it. We will simply try to educate men to understand the impact of what they can say.”
Malone has been frustrated with his list decimated by late arrivals at the Walt Disney World complex due to injuries and positive evidence of coronavirus. Malone said scrimmages have been the only time his team was able to go 5-on-5 due to a lack of players available for practice.
The coach said he is not sure who will be available to play the Miami Heat on Saturday when the Nuggets (43-22) begin their qualifying games in third place in the Western Conference. In the team’s first scrimmage, the Nuggets were forced to start 7-foot Nikola Jokic as point guard along with 6-8 Jerami Grant, 7-2 Bol Bol, 6-7 Paul Millsap and 6-11 Mason Plumlee.
“Right now, to be honest, I’m not worried about our planting,” said Malone. “My primary concern is health. That remains a major concern to me, a major point of emphasis. Can we find a way to recover on August 17? [when the postseason begins]? “
“I have no idea who will be available on Saturday at 1 o’clock against Miami,” he added later. “We had a practice today, and we had a few guys out of practice because of injuries and just being very, very cautious … Because it seems like every day there is a change in the availability of certain players … Once that we have those answers in terms of availability, it will be much easier to find out who the hell is going to play us. “
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