Kendrick Perkins recently addressed his comments about NBA MVP voters being racist. He clarified that supporting someone of the same race is not the same as being racist. He cited his own example of voting for Obama because he wanted to see a Black President.
Perkins had used examples of white MVPs not being top scorers to support his argument for racism, which sparked a heated debate with JJ Redick.
Perkins openly campaigned for Joel Embiid to win the MVP, which ultimately happened, but Nikola Jokic won the championship, which is not in the voters’ control.
"Racist means that you hate someone of another color… Just because you root for someone of your own kind doesn't make you racist."
Kendrick Perkins addressed the Nikola Jokic MVP argument that he had with JJ Redick 🗣️
(via @PatBevPod)pic.twitter.com/gkgRxMa5Cl
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 9, 2023
Perkins highlighted that the last player to win both regular season and Finals MVP in the same season was LeBron James in 2012 and 2013. Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Joel Embiid are active MVPs who haven’t won a championship yet.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic won consecutive regular-season MVPs but won the title and Finals MVP when they didn’t win MVP. Embiid’s performance dropped in the playoffs, and he became the only MVP in history to never make a Conference Finals appearance.
The Philadelphia 76ers recently won against the Miami Heat, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and setting up a first-round matchup against the New York Knicks.
Game 1 will take place at Madison Square Garden. Embiid had a decent performance with 23 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and one steal. However, his health remains a concern, especially following a knee injury earlier in the season.
Kendrick Perkins expressed his doubts about Embiid’s health, noting that the knee issue affected him mentally. Embiid was held out of the final regular-season game as a precaution. Perkins pointed to Wednesday’s play-in win as another cause for concern regarding Embiid’s health.
Kendrick Perkins believes that Joel Embiid is not even close to being 80% healthy
“He has ZERO dunks since returning from the injury.”
(Via @ESPNNBA ) pic.twitter.com/V8zCCAUOMk
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 18, 2024
In a debate on “NBA Today,” Perkins chose Knicks star Jalen Brunson over Embiid, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the latter’s knee. Perkins mentioned that Embiid’s performance in the first three quarters of the recent game raised concerns, as he appeared to lack his usual explosiveness.
Joel Embiid or Jalen Brunson, WHO YOU GOT? 🤔
Perk and Austin debate the two stars in Knicks vs. Sixers ⭐ pic.twitter.com/hIsZziMtse
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 18, 2024
Ultimately, whether Perkins’ analysis is accurate will be determined on the court as the playoffs progress.
Fans reacted as follows:
That’s hatred, not racism . Racism is oppression based from power.
— Samsun (@Samsun13131732) August 10, 2023
I finally agree with him
— ℝ𝕠𝕕𝕟𝕖𝕪𝔸𝕝𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕣🇭🇹 (@RodneyAlmonor) August 9, 2023
That's not what he said on first take tho 😭
— Miguel (@miguel_DTL) August 9, 2023
So, if a white guy root for white guy and shit on black guy. Thats not racist? If a company owner is white and hire only white guys because he is rooting for his race. Is that not racist?
— Arun (@ArunTeltia_) August 9, 2023
Terrible definition or racism
— yolo (@yolojamizzle) August 9, 2023
Rare Kendrick Perkins good take
— ɪᴍ.ʀɪʟᴇʏ シ ✞ ☘️ (@CookedByRiley0) April 19, 2024
Bro was dropping 30 on one knee 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ZfRWlmdCaU
— DJ☘️ (@ReelDJ14) April 19, 2024
He’s right he’s not even at 30% health and cooked the heat
— 𝟚 (@PullUpShai) April 19, 2024
He's right and the Sixers training staff are just committing malpractice.
They don't have a chance to make any noise in the playoffs, just keep him rested till next year…
— Official Small Market Sympathizer (@OTownNBA) April 19, 2024
He has ZERO dunks since returning from the injury,,,,,what are you thinking
— Shining Bharat 🇮🇳 (@UNIQUE_BOY_SITU) April 18, 2024
His 80% is better than a lot of people
— Doubleuwjr (@Doubleuwjr) April 19, 2024
Embiid is still in pain and this might hurt the team
— Gringo (@Mkisii_mmeru) April 19, 2024
If you have working eyes, you saw last night the Joel Embiid is SEVERLY compromised.
— Stephen Ai Smith ᶠᵃⁿ (@stephenaismth) April 19, 2024
Embiid and the Sixers are gona show who the real 2 seed is
— rob (@robbaeharron) April 18, 2024
Brunson, but Embiid will have 20 FTs, so maybe Embiid
— BarryB (@LuckyBarryB) April 18, 2024
Embiid 100%
— Philly Boy🇺🇸(former embiidhomie) (@thepahomie) April 18, 2024
Lets see how the knicks will handle Randle and the 76ers… but well we all knew how Embiid is playing when its the playoffs… 😂😂😂
— 🐑 FOU… FOU🐑 (@lebronbryant01) April 18, 2024
