Kendrick Perkins is something.
As for what kind of something, I’m not really sure. But he’s something.
Definitely not an NBA MVP, though.
Unless you ask the screaming gremlins inside his head.
On the heels of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s upset of the Sacramento Kings Sunday night—it feels soooo weird to write that—Perkins was all aflutter. When asked by Daily Thunder’s Royce Young (h/t Ball Don’t Lie) about his play, he started oozing crazy:
I asked Perk about all his big teammates stepping out to the 3, when is it his turn? “Nah, shit I tried to take the ball, I tried to drive from the elbow today and turned it over. I was scared to look at the bench. So I’m gonna leave that alone. Scotty lets me shoot jumpers every now and then but I ain’t taking no 3s though.”
Perk on getting a standing ovation in the first quarter: “It felt good. I thought I heard a couple MVP chants.” I told him I didn’t hear any of those. “Yeah, neither did I. Just in my head.” Perk is the best.
Well, hot damn. This is awesome. And scary.
Perkins has become something of a financial albatross novelty who is only relevant to NBA and Thunder conversations as they pertain to uselessness. He hasn’t cleared four win shares in a half-decade. He lost his starting job to sophomore Steven Adams. He’s likely part of the reason why the Thunder couldn’t afford to keep James Harden or Kevin Martin—though, if true, that’s on Oklahoma City’s management more than the center himself.
And yet Perkins still carries himself like an easy-going individual who isn’t constantly ridiculed or widely loathed. Good on him.
Earning $9.7 million as a reserve must help him drown out the moans and groans and jeers. It’s also probably enough to foot the bill for the therapy sessions he might need, assuming he’s actually hearing MVP chants in his head. There are at least 10 other Thunder players more likely to hear those verbal plaudits: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, Steven Adams, Perry Jones III, Jeremy Lamb, Mitch McGary (on bring your own bong night), Nick Collison and Anthony Morrow. Shit, let’s roll with Sebastian Telfair just to be cool, too.
Anyway, snark-sharking aside, Perkins is awesome. Humor is appreciated. Especially during tough, injury-infested times like the Thunder are facing. And especially from a player like Perkins who, after all he’s been through and continues to endure, has found a way to stay upbeat.
He’s simply the best.
(Note: That may be the elven dwarf who lives in the Broca area of my brain talking.)
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
