“Jokic Wouldn’t Want This Smoke” – Kendrick Perkins Bizarre Claim On Live TV Leaves Co-Host Stunned

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins made waves in and around the league after his recent take on the Nuggets' star Nikola Jokic.


“Jokic Wouldn’t Want This Smoke” – Kendrick Perkins Bizarre Claim On Live TV Leaves Co-Host Stunned

Kendrick Perkins and Nikola Jokic (Image by FirstSportz)

Right now, Nikola Jokic is at the height of his abilities. He has won three of the last four MVP awards and guided the Denver Nuggets to a championship. As the front-runners for the MVP award, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Serbian sensation is in the race for a fourth title. Despite all of this, former NBA player Kendrick Perkins went as far as to claim that he would ‘defend’ against Jokic in his prime.

Perkins is known for his weird and unusual takes in and around the NBA. However, this particular take seems to break all the norms. Before Game 6 of the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics series, Perkins stated on NBA Countdown that Jokic wouldn’t want to put him to the test in a Game 7. This surely left the NBA community stunned as well.

Jokic wouldn’t have wanted this smoke. Kobe [Bryant] said I was the best post defender in the league.

Kendrick Perkins said

Although Perkins wasn’t a horrible defender in his prime, Jokic has never been matched by anyone in his career, particularly in a Game 7. Over his career, the Nuggets star has a 4-2 record in Game 7s and averages 24.3 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game.

In this series versus an outstanding Thunder defense, Jokic has occasionally struggled, but in the last two games, he has truly come through and had two of his best playoff performances. In Game 6, Jokic scored 29 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out eight assists after pouring up 44 points and 15 rebounds in a Game 5 defeat in Oklahoma City.

Now, going into the crucial Game 7, Jokic knows that he has one of the biggest tasks ahead of him this season. Getting past the #1 seed Thunder would surely put Jokic and Co. one step into the NBA Finals. Although they would have to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the WCF Finals first. But before that, it will be intriguing to watch how Jokic performs in the upcoming Game 7 matchup.

Kendrick Perkins backtracks on foolish Nikola Jokic take

Just hours after Perkins went on to claim that he would defend Jokic in Game 7 in his prime, the fans did not let his take slide. They slandered the former NBA player to the extent that he came out on his socials to make things clear about his take on Jokic.

Jesus Christ. I was joking around with Bob and Malika people.

Kendrick Perkins wrote

Many found this take(mentioned above) quite laughable; it sure was. Fans, to put it simply, disagreed with this viewpoint. However, Perkins was probably making jokes with his team, so it appeared that he was making fun of them.

Paul Pierce praises Nikola Jokic

With each season passing by, the Denver Nuggets’ star man Nikola Jokic seems to make a compelling case for the ‘best NBA player.’ Over the years, he has won over many former NBA players’ trust and votes to be the best in the league currently. Most recently, former NBA player, Paul Pierce hopped on the Jokic praise bandwagon.

When I’m looking at this dude’s numbers, I’m saying, minus the championships, his prime, you can argue is better than Bron’s, KD’s and Steph’s. Those three, that’s the pillars of this generation right there. His run right now, over the last four years in his prime, he just don’t have the championships, it might be better than them, and the only one it can compare to was like probably Jordan.

Paul Pierce said

On the other hand, Jokic is playing at a level that no one else has equaled this season, according to Pierce’s former colleague and fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. But, he refused to place the Nuggets center on par with the greatest players of this generation since he has only won one NBA championship.

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