Porter Jr. has been solid, but this quote might be outrageous.
Bam Adebayo's 83-point explosion against the Washington Wizards on March 10 sent shockwaves through the NBA and bumped Kobe Bryant's legendary 81-point game to third on the all-time single-game scoring list.
Players and fans have been going back and forth about it ever since, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. just threw his name into the conversation in the most unexpected way possible.
During an appearance on social media personality Deshae Frost's livestream, Porter didn't hold back when talking about what he wants to do about it.
"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," Porter said in a clip that went viral almost immediately.
The Internet Had a Field Day
Fans didn't exactly rally behind the idea.
The reaction online ranged from disbelief to flat-out jokes, with most people pointing out that Porter's season-high this year is 32 points, which means he would need to more than double his best game just to get close.
His career high remains the 50-point outburst he had with the Houston Rockets back in April 2021 against, coincidentally enough, the Bucks.
Outside of that one night, he has never even cracked 40.
And look, there is something admirable about the confidence even if the math doesn't add up.
Porter has been one of the better stories in Milwaukee this season, stepping into the starting point guard role after the Bucks moved on from Damian Lillard and putting together what has probably been his most complete year as a pro.
Through 38 games and 36 starts, he is averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals while shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and a career-best 87.8 percent from the line.
Those are real numbers, and the Bucks have leaned on him heavily with Giannis Antetokounmpo battling injuries throughout the year.
Can He Actually Do It?
The honest answer is almost certainly not. Scoring 84 points requires a once-in-a-generation combination of rhythm, opportunity and a defense that simply can't figure you out.
Adebayo's night against Washington needed 43 field goal attempts, 22 three-point tries and a record-setting 36 made free throws on 43 attempts to get there, and the Heat had several key guys out that night which funneled usage his way in a manner that almost never happens.
Porter is also currently sidelined with knee synovitis and has missed the last few games, which only shrinks the window further with the season winding down and the Bucks sitting at 29-43.
What Comes Next for Porter in Milwaukee?
The bigger question around Porter might not be whether he can score 84 but whether he'll even be back with the Bucks next season.
He signed a two-year deal worth roughly $10.5 million last summer that includes a player option for 2026-27, and given how his role has expanded this year, he could opt out and test the market for more money.
If he picks up the option, Milwaukee gets him back at around $5.4 million, which would be a bargain.
Either way, Porter has proven he belongs in a starting lineup, and that might matter more than any 83-point chase.