Former NBA Players JJ Redick and Kendrick Perkins Have Tense Exchange on ESPN’s First Take Over Race and MVP Voting
Heated Exchange on ESPN's First Take: Race and the NBA MVP Conversation
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Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins caused a stir on last week’s episode of First Take when he criticized the notion that Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić deserved to win two MVP awards. Perkins pointed out that Jokić was one of only three players who have won the award without finishing in the top 10 in scoring, and all three players were White.
Perkins suggested that there may be bias in the MVP voting process. “What do those guys have in common? I’ll let it sit there and marinate. You think about it,” he said. “When it comes down to moving the goalposts for certain individuals to win it, again, is it Oochie Wally? Or is it One Mic? What song are we actually dancing to right now? Why is this subject not brought up?”
On Tuesday’s episode of the show, former NBA player JJ Redick called out Perkins for implying that White voters are racist and favor White players. “What we just witnessed is the problem with this show,” Redick said. “Where we create narratives that do not exist in reality. The implication what you are implying that the White voters that vote on NBA are racist. They favor White people.”
The conversation became increasingly tense as Redick criticized Perkins for selectively choosing 1990 as the benchmark year for MVP winners who didn’t finish in the top 10 in scoring. This allowed him to avoid mentioning Lakers great Magic Johnson, who won the award in ’87, ’89, and ’90 and finished 10th, 15th, and 18th in scoring during each of those years.
Throughout the exchange, both Redick and Perkins talked over each other, prompting host Stephen A. Smith to intervene and encourage them to make their points “one at a time.”
The argument highlights a growing concern about race and the NBA MVP conversation. Many experts have suggested that race has played a role in past MVP voting, with some players being overlooked due to their race or perceived lack of marketability. While there is no evidence that this is the case in the current NBA MVP race, the conversation on ESPN’s First Take shows that the issue is still at the forefront of many people’s minds.
Related: Kendrick Perkins rips JJ Redick in brutal rant over Nikola Jokic-Joel Embiid MVP race
Perkins Accuses Nikola Jokic of Stat-Padding Despite Impressive Season Stats
Nikola Jokić, the Denver Nuggets star center, has been accused of “stat-padding” by former NBA player Kendrick Perkins. Perkins claimed that Jokić finished 12th in scoring when he won the MVP award for the 2020-21 season, implying that his scoring was not as impressive as it seemed. However, it should be noted that Jokić finished sixth in the NBA in points per game last season.
This year, Jokić has been playing at an even higher level, averaging a career-high 24.4 points, 10.0 assists, and 11.8 rebounds per game while leading Denver to the best record in the Western Conference. He is widely considered to be one of the top candidates for this season’s MVP award, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jokić’s ability to contribute in multiple statistical categories is a key part of his game, and it’s something that sets him apart from many of his peers. His passing and rebounding skills are particularly impressive for a player of his size, and his ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates has been a major factor in Denver’s success this season.
Regardless of Perkins’ comments, there is no denying that Jokić is one of the most dominant players in the NBA right now. If he continues to play at this level, he could very well win his third consecutive MVP award this season.
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Vivek Yadav
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