Kendrick Perkins’ ESPN Job Cost Him Friendship With LeBron James and Kevin Durant

Up until the 2024 offseason, Kendrick Perkins and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James were close friends.

Kendrick Perkins’ ESPN Job Cost Him Friendship With LeBron James and Kevin Durant

Kendrick Perkins is no longer friends with Kevin Durant and LeBron James (Image via FirstSportz)

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Before joining ESPN, Kendrick Perkins enjoyed a good career in the NBA. There, he had the opportunity to play alongside the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, as well as Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.

He ended up winning an NBA title with the latter three as part of the 2008 Boston Celtics championship-winning team, and then moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New Orleans Pelicans.

In that time, Kendrick Perkins managed to make some good relationships with some of those superstars. But now, due to the perils of his current career, the 40-year-old has seen those friendships wilt away.

I lost Russ, KD, Bron. I had to speak on the s**t though… Bron got mad at me because we was talking about Bronny, about the draft. I really didn’t wanna touch on it, because first of all, we shouldn’t be talking about the 55th pick… Sometimes you get that microphone in front of you, and now I gotta go all the way there.

Kendrick Perkins said on the Out The Mud Podcast

The center went on to reveal that he was speaking facts about Bronny James‘ McDonald’s All-American selection. Perkins pointed out that one does not get into that list if he is scoring just 14 points a game.

Perkins tried not to talk about LeBron James’ son on ESPN, but was forced to as per his job requirements. However, it ended up costing him his nearly 23-year-old friendship with the Lakers superstar.

Kendrick Perkins’ comments caused friction with former teammates

Kendrick Perkins is not the first television analyst to criticize players. The problem was that some of those players happened to be his former teammates.

Kendrick Perkins and LeBron James with the Cavs
Kendrick Perkins and LeBron James with the Cavs (Image via Sonosbasket/X)

Before the Bronny James comments, LeBron James was still a good friend, and dapped him up, and hugged him before a Lakers’ game while just keeping it formal with Stephen A. Smith.

As someone who spent nearly 16 seasons in the NBA, it was hard to keep his relationships going, especially when he had to do his job as an analyst.

Criticisms of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook saw those friendships die instantly. Thankfully, he did not have to speak about his Boston Celtics teammates.

Had he had to analyze them, it would have led to more friction. Perkins still maintains good terms with other Cleveland Cavaliers teammates such as Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, as they team up on a podcast with former Cavaliers reporter Allie Clifton.

Kendrick Perkins grew up crying to bed every day

Kendrick Perkins’ father was a professional basketball player, but he was not around to nurture his son, as he was away in New Zealand playing in the league.

After his mother was shot and killed by her best friend, Perkins’ grandparents decided to raise him on their farm. He lived by working around the farm, but was still interested in basketball.

Once his grandparents gave him the support, the youngster gave it his all in high school. But he wished his parents were there to support him and see him excel.

My wife always tells me, ‘I don’t know what it is, but I never see your a** cry.’ I was like, ‘To be honest with you, I ain’t got no more tears to shed.’ I cried myself to sleep every night as a youngster.

Kendrick Perkins said

It is during this time that Kendrick Perkins first met LeBron James on the high school basketball circuit. Little did he know that he would become an NBA champion and play alongside his friend.

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