Madison Pettis Reflects on Past Relationship with NBA Star Michael Porter Jr.
Madison Pettis, the former Disney Channel star recognised for her roles in The Game Plan and Cory in the House, has recently shared candid insights into why she ended her past relationship with NBA player Michael Porter Jr. The 27-year-old actress, who dated the Brooklyn Nets forward during their younger years between 2016 and mid-2017, described her ex-boyfriend as a “psychopath” during a recent podcast appearance.
Speaking on the In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele podcast, Pettis was discussing her wind-down routine when the topic of her ex-boyfriend arose. She revealed her enjoyment of watching basketball games as a way to relax, stating, “I’m really into sports… that helps me unwind a little bit.” She added that while she’s a fan of the Golden State Warriors, she has NBA League Pass, allowing her to watch a wide array of games. This led to a light-hearted question from the podcast host about whether she’d consider being a “basketball wife.”
Pettis’s response was direct and revealed the underlying reason for their past separation. “Um, yeah,” she began. “I mean, my ex is now in the NBA. When we dated, he was in high school and college. I broke up with him before he was in the league because he was a psychopath.”
While she didn’t delve into specific details about why she labelled Porter Jr. as a “psychopath,” Pettis did express a general sentiment about athletes as partners. “I do think a lot of athletes are not great partners,” she admitted, “but I wouldn’t rule it out because I do love what they do. I would have respect for them and love to talk to them about their passion.”
The relationship between Pettis and Porter Jr. was brief, with their split occurring sometime in 2017. The former couple was even photographed together at the Radio Disney Music Awards in Los Angeles in 2017, shortly before their breakup.
Michael Porter Jr. was drafted into the NBA by the Denver Nuggets as the 14th overall pick in the 2018 draft. He went on to win an NBA Championship with the Nuggets in 2023 before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets last summer.
Interestingly, shortly after his arrival in New York, Porter Jr. himself became the subject of controversy following comments he made about relationships and women on the One Night with Steiny podcast.
During that interview, Porter Jr., who has accumulated substantial career earnings of $115 million, outlined his expectations for a partner. “I don’t mind providing for you, I don’t mind doing that,” he stated. “You can stay at the crib, you can do your thing. You gotta bring something to the table.”
He elaborated on what he believed a partner should contribute, saying, “Positivity, you gotta help me mentally, you gotta be able to cook or something… You gotta bring something to the table… look, what value are you bringing to my life? That’s the way I look at it now.”
Porter Jr. further underscored his views by referencing his own mother, who homeschooled him and his seven siblings while his father worked. “In a wifey, I don’t mind if she’s a stay-at-home mom,” he remarked. “My mom was a stay-at-home mom but she raised all eight of us kids, she homeschooled us, she cooked for us when my dad was out working, she raised us.” He concluded his point by saying, “You gotta be able to do something. These girls nowadays it’s like they just want to live like queens and do absolutely nothing.” These statements from Porter Jr. have resonated with public discourse on modern relationships and traditional gender roles, adding another layer to the narrative surrounding his past relationship with Madison Pettis.
