JR Radcliffe

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

It’s a big week for Wisconsin sports birthdays, starting Sunday, when the three cornerstones of the state’s pro sports scene celebrate their birthday within a five-day window.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers turns 35 on Sunday, December 2. On December 5, Brewers MVP outfielder Christian Yelich turns 27. And on December 6, Bucks Future MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo turns 24.

To add a dash of Badgers into the equation, it should be noted that UW head men’s basketball coach Greg Gard celebrates a birthday on Dec. 3. He’ll turn 48.

Here’s a look at their best games on their birthdays:

Aaron Rodgers (Dec. 2)

Rodgers and the Packers will take on the Cardinals on Sunday as the birthday boy looks to keep his team’s playoff hopes alive.

Rodgers has only played a Packers game on his birthday once before. In a win over the Vikings on Dec. 2, 2012, Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passes for 287 yards, a touchdown and interception as Green Bay took down the Vikings, 23-14.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Dec. 6)

Giannis gets his birthday off this year, though he plays the night before (against the Pistons) and the night after (against the Warriors).

Last year, the Bucks met the Pistons on his 23rd birthday, and he finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and a steal in Milwaukee’s 104-100 win. The only other time he played with the Bucks on his birthday came in his rookie year, when he scored 6 points in 19 minutes in 2013 against the Wizards.

Christian Yelich (Dec. 5)

Obviously, Yelich doesn’t get a chance to play baseball on his birthday, so let’s look at his half­-birthday, on June 5.

He went 1 for 4 against Cleveland in his lone Brewers game on that date. In his career, Yelich is 3 for 20 on his half-birthday.

This year’s half-birthday game promises to be at least somewhat intriguing – the Brewers welcome Yelich’s former team, the Miami Marlins, in to Miller Park from June 4-6. It will be Miami’s first chance to see the player it traded away since he became a National League MVP.

Greg Gard (Dec. 3)

Two years ago, the Badgers routed Big 12 foe Oklahoma at the Kohl Center, 90-80, giving Greg Gard a nice birthday present in his first full year as head coach. Nigel Hayes scored 28 points, and Ethan Happ and Bronson Koenig both finished with 16.