Kendrick Perkins is a huge fan of the Jordan Brand.
However, the 2016 NBA champion turned ESPN personality isn’t getting paid anymore for wearing the brand created by NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Kendrick Perkins calls LeBron James the GOAT
Perkins was once on the Jordan Brand payroll but was cut, according to himself, after weighing in on the ‘GOAT’ (Greatest of All-Time) debate.
“MJ is petty as hell, too,” Perkins said during an appearance on First Take back in March.
“You go in my closet, and it’s nothing but Js (Jordan shoes). I keep Js on my feet. I was signed to Jordan (Brand) for about two years when I was playing.
“I used to get boxes in the mail all the time of the Js before they hit the stores.”
Then the boxes stopped coming.
“I started my media career and ss soon as I said LeBron James was the GOAT, those boxes stopped coming,” Perkins, who also went viral for his comments about Anthony Edwards, said.
You can’t really blame Perkins for claiming James is the NBA’s greatest of all time.
After all, it was James who led Perkins and the Cleveland Cavaliers to their only NBA title in 2016, mounting an improbable Finals comeback against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
Kendrick Perkins slams LeBron James
However, despite Perkins’ praise of James, it’s not exactly clear if the pair enjoy the best of relationships.
Headlines were made back in June of last year after Perkins criticised former Cavs teammate James for his remarks on a podcast about Kyrie Irving, leading to the Lakers star unfollowing the ESPN talking head.
“LeBron James (KingJames) is no longer following @KendrickPerkins,” the account NBA Alerts, which tracks the following of players in the league, posted on X.
This prompted a response from Perkins as he posted at the time, “Everybody didn’t follow Jesus, I’ll be ok”
The unfollowing came after James’ comments about Irving, which prompted some harsh words by Perkins.
“There was nothing on the basketball floor that Kyrie couldn’t do. Sitting here watching it,” James said on his Mind the Game podcast.
“I’m playing like so f***ing happy and so proud to watch him continue his growth or whatever the case may be. At the same time, I’m so f***ing mad at the same time that I am not his running mate anymore.”
Perkins reacted to those comments on ESPN.
“Here we go again. Bron weaseling his way into somebody else’s moment. Like, this is not about you. Your team is at home,” Perkins, who also made the NBA Finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012, said.
“This is about the Mavs and the Celtics. Yet, your so mad and disappointed that you’re not Kyrie Irving’s running mate anymore. Here we go again.”
It’s hardly surprising that James may have taken offence at those comments.
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