Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd embrace before Monday nights game. Photo: Milwaukee Bucks
There’s no doubt that Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has star power. There’s not a lot of players that have the ability to sell out the BMO Harris Bradley Center on a Monday night, but that’s what happened.
The sellout crowd of 18,717 fans came out to pay tribute to Bryant, one of the NBA’s all-time greatest players. Bryant isn’t the player he once was, but still gave the Milwaukee crowd reason to cheer, scoring 15-points and pulling down five rebounds in a 108-101 Bucks victory.
But it was Bucks youngster Giannis Antetokounmpo that ended up stealing the show, collecting his first career triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and ten assists in the Bucks win. Giannis also added four blocks and three steals.
The Bucks led by 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Bucks won their second straight game and four out of their last five.
Khris Middleton added 18 points, Jabari Parker had 15 and Miles Plumlee added 14, including six dunks.
Bryant said he’s enjoyed playing in Milwaukee. His best memory came in 2009 when he hit a buzzer beater in overtime.
AUDIO: Kobe Bryant on his overtime game winner in 2009 :11
AUDIO: Kobe Bryant on playing in Milwaukee :12
AUDIO: Jason Kidd on Giannis Antetokounmpo handling the point guard :23
The Bucks are off until Thursday when they face the Celtics in Boston.