Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance against the Washington Wizards on March 10 sent shockwaves across the NBA world. All of the conversation around it has not died down since.
One player who has been particularly vocal about it is Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr., who made his feelings known during a recent livestream. And his motivation has everything to do with Kobe Bryant.
Why Kevin Porter Jr. Wants to Break Bam Adebayo’s Record for Kobe Bryant
During an appearance on social media personality Deshae Frost’s stream, Porter Jr. did not mince words. “I’m trying to drop 80. Shoutout to Kobe, shoutout to Bam, because I’m beating that one day. For sure. Now that Kobe got beat, I gotta beat Bam just for the respect of Kobe. You feel me?” he said, in a clip that quickly went viral.
Kevin Porter Jr. tells Deshae Frost’s chat he’s trying to beat Bam Adebayo’s 83 points for the respect of Kobe Bryant.
“Now that Kobe got beat, I gotta beat Bam just for the respect of Kobe” pic.twitter.com/at8sib0l11
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) March 25, 2026
The context behind Porter Jr.’s comments stems from Bryant’s iconic 81-point game for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2006, which was long considered the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history. He trailed only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game.
Adebayo’s 83-point outing against the Wizards pushed Bryant’s mark to third. For many, this development has not sat well with players and fans who are strongly invested in Bryant’s legacy. Porter Jr. is one of them.
He made clear that surpassing Adebayo is a mission driven by reverence rather than ego. When listeners pushed back and suggested he aim for 100 points, he was quick to add some perspective. “Why y’all talking about drop 100… stop the cap. Can I have some… There’s a thing called manifestation, you’ve got to manifest what you believe in,” he said.
The reaction online was mixed. While some appreciated the sentiment behind his comments, many were quick to point out the gap between Porter Jr.’s current production and the level required to threaten any scoring record.
He is averaging 17.4 points per game this season, with a season high of 32 points, meaning he would need to double his best output just to approach Adebayo’s mark. His career high remains a 50-point game he recorded in April 2021 with the Houston Rockets, coincidentally against the Bucks.
Porter Jr.’s path to such a performance faces significant obstacles beyond the raw statistical improbability. He has missed the last three games while nursing a knee injury and will sit out again on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. This further reduces the number of games he has left to fulfill his claim.
On paper, Milwaukee’s situation does create unusual opportunities. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined and the front office reportedly considering shutting him down for the remainder of the season, Porter Jr. has taken on an expanded role in the backcourt.
Through 38 games, he is averaging a career-high 7.4 assists and 2.18 steals, along with 17.4 points per game, shooting 46.5% from the field. The Bucks sit at 29-42, 11th in the Eastern Conference, with little left to play for in the standings.
