The surroundings and basketball situations could hardly be more different, but Michael Porter Jr. is smiling all the same.

“It’s an underrated city. You can actually see the sky and breathe fresh air,” Porter said of Denver prior to Thursday’s game at Ball Arena, his first since last summer’s trade sent him to Brooklyn.

“New York’s different, but New York has its pros as well.”

The benefits of being in Brooklyn extend beyond the better pizza. Porter has a bigger slice of the basketball pie on his plate with the Nets. Porter entered Thursday’s game averaging career highs in points (25.2), assists (3.2), 3-point attempts (9.4) and free throw percentage (84.6).

“It’s just been normal growth of being in a different context, different team,” Nets coach and former Nuggets assistant Jordi Fernandez explained pregame.

“He was very, very good here. Obviously, he defined who he is as a player when he was here. Then, in a different context and situation, he’s been very efficient for us (while) being also used in a different way. (He’s) rebounding at a high level.”

Porter is the Nets’ No. 1 option and is taking five more shots from the field and three more attempts from 3-point range this season compared to last. In Denver, he was, at best, a tertiary option when the Nuggets were healthy.

“It’s just a different situation. In Brooklyn, some of the shots that I shoot, that they need me to take, are different. In Denver, those aren’t necessarily the best shots, because we could work for probably a wide-open shot instead of a contested, fade-away 3 over two people,” Porter said.

“I think that’s the biggest difference. The usage is a little different. The offensive scheme is a little different. … I still feel like I’m getting better, because this is the first year in the NBA where I’m put in this situation. I’m going to keep growing in that role.”

The 27-year-old dropped 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists to beat his former team in their first meeting, a Nets win in Brooklyn on Jan. 4. He had an even better game back in Denver, finishing Brooklyn’s 107-103 loss with 38 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on 13-for-28 shooting, including a 7-for-15 mark from 3, while being guarded by Denver’s best perimeter defenders at the moment – Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson. It was the most shots he’s attempted in a game and the second-highest scoring game of his seven-year career.

“He’s getting to shoot more, and he’s doing that. And he can really do that well,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said prior to Thursday’s game. “The minutes are up. The touches are up. Obviously, they’re playing through him. He’s had a lot of success playing with a young team.”

The starting small forward on Denver’s championship squad reunited with former teammates and coaches during his pregame shooting window and received an ovation when he was the first member of the Nets’ starting lineup introduced. The team played a tribute video during the game’s first timeout. Porter acknowledged the crowd and Denver’s bench before play resumed.

“Denver was like the last place on my mind that I would be drafted, but it was the perfect place for me. They took their time with me, and the team got better and better,” Porter said.

“They’ll always be my brothers. It’s always special to see the staff, see the medical staff, the chefs, the security. It’s cool just because I was around them for seven years. I saw them every single day for the last seven years. It’s a blessing to be able to see them again.”

The off-court role is also significantly different. He started his time in Denver as one of the team’s youngest players who had a lot to learn. At 27, he’s something of an elder statesman of the Nets.

“It’s just a completely different situation,” Porter acknowledged. “Now, I’m the leader on the team. I’m giving help to lead young guys – 19-, 20-, 21-year-olds – and teach them about winning, winning habits, winning culture, a lot that I learned from my time in Denver.”

Brooklyn, 12-34 after seven consecutive losses, hasn’t been doing much winning this season and faces an extended rebuild, while Denver’s trying to keep its championship window open with some extra depth that trading Porter provided.

“I don’t want to take for granted winning basketball like I had here and the chance to win a championship every year, but I think it was just time for a change of scenery for me. I loved my time here in Denver, but it’s all I knew. Now, it’s something different completely different. … I feel like if I didn’t get that ring to finish my time here with a ring, then it would’ve been hard to move into the situation I’m in now,” Porter said.

“It’s completely different, but I’m having a great time. I’m at peace. I’m experiencing a lot of joy in this situation.”