Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. recently shared why he thinks he needs to surpass Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo's 83-point performance, pointing to Kobe Bryant's legacy as a major inspiration.
Porter Jr. made the comments while reacting to Adebayo's historic run during a recent livestream.
"I'm trying to drop 80 [points]. shout out kobe [Bryant]Shout out to Bam because I'm definitely beating him one day. Now that Kobe has lost, I have to defeat Bam to honor Kobe."
Adebayo's 83-point game is now the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game and surpassing Bryant's iconic 81-point performance with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2006.
The 25-year-old Porter Jr. is currently in his sixth NBA season and his first full campaign with Milwaukee, where he has taken on an expanded role in the backcourt. Through 38 games, including 36 starts, he has averaged 17.4 points, a career-high 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds and a career-high 2.2 steals per game, while shooting 46.5% from the field, 32.2% from three-point range and a career-high 87.8% from the free-throw line in 33.2 minutes per contest.
Kevin Porter Jr. tells Desha Frost in a chat that he's trying to beat Bam Adebayo's 83 points out of respect for Kobe Bryant.
"Now that Kobe has lost, I have to defeat Bam to honor Kobe" pic.twitter.com/at8sib0l11
- FearedBuck (@FearedBuck) 25 March 2026
Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. eyes points from Bam Adebayo, Kobe Bryant
The surge in Porter Jr.'s scoring has already been evident in his career. The highest performance of his career came during the 2020–21 season with the Houston Rockets, when he recorded 50 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds in a matchup against the Bucks in late April. In that game, he shot 16 of 26 from the field, 9 of 15 from three-point range, and 9 of 11 from the free-throw line in 41 minutes.
Adebayo's performance has sparked league-wide discussion regarding milestones achieved and the pursuit of records, with players and analysts reflecting on the circumstances surrounding the historic night. However, Porter Jr. remains focused on competing and respecting the standard set by Bryant.
Milwaukee is coming off a challenging season, entering the finals with a 29–42 record and 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. Despite the team's struggles, Porter Jr.'s individual production has been a bright spot as the Bucks look toward the future.
The Bucks are set to conclude their four-game road trip with a matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers (36-37) on Wednesday night at 10:00 PM ET. Milwaukee is entering the contest coming off a 129-96 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
As the season ends, Porter Jr.'s comments reflect his confidence and the broader impact of Adebayo's historic performance, which continues to resonate throughout the league.
