Kendrick Perkins is no stranger to a good debate. But when it comes to going up against the reporters who cover the league, the former NBA center knows he has to be on his A game.
Last week, Perkins appeared on the Straight Game Podcast, where he discussed a variety of topics regarding his current career as an ESPN analyst. And when it comes to his preparation, the 2008 NBA champion said he’s put in plenty of work to ensure that he won’t go viral for all the wrong reasons.
“I punch in the clock. I watch as much basketball as I possibly can. I’m reading more than I’ve ever read. Because you learn a lot from journalists,” Perkins said. “You got to be on your sh*t when you up there with certain journalists because them motherf*ckers are sharks when it comes down to studying and knowing the analytics, knowing the numbers, talking to general managers, knowing when the trade’s gonna happen and you better be accurate.
“Because again, if you’re not accurate, the way social media is, they gonna get on your ass. And if you’re not accurate and you putting something out there that’s not factual, they gonna get on your ass again.”
Perkins’ point might be humorous, but it’s also not wrong. And it’s also refreshing to hear a former player admit that he knows that he can’t just rely on his experience and perspective as a former player if he’s going to keep pace in debates with those who didn’t play the game (for what it’s worth, Perkins’ comments came days before Ryan Clark discredited Peter Scharger as an NFL analyst because he’s a “non-player”).
As an NBA analyst, Kendrick Perkins might not be for everyone, as one would expect for someone in such a prominent position. But a quick look at our archives shows that most of the headlines he has made are due to his propensity for engaging in sports media beefs and dispensing hot takes as opposed to any apparent lack of preparation.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.