Kendrick Perkins Slams Hypocritical Take on LeBron James and Nikola Jokic’s Fatigue

Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets have been struggling with fatigue in the second round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Kendrick Perkins Slams Hypocritical Take on LeBron James and Nikola Jokic’s Fatigue

Kendrick Perkins wants people to question Nikola Jokic's fitness the way they did to LeBron James (Image via FirstSportz)

Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets entered Game 5 knowing the Oklahoma City Thunder were going to have their home fans giving them that extra push. With the series tied 2-2, it was up to the Serbian and his teammates to ensure they did not fall behind in a must-win game.

The Nuggets started the game on equal terms with the Thunder. This was not a repeat of Game 4, where both sides were struggling to score early in the game. Instead, they were going at it as both teams tried to break away.

Then, coming out of the second half, the road team pulled away on the back of Jokic’s brilliance. He had been toying with Thunder defenders all game, and continued to dominate. Then came the fourth quarter, and the Serbian’s shots stopped falling inside the basket.

There were stretches when it seemed as if he was laboring through the game. His teammates struggled to shoot as well, and the younger, well-rested Thunder pounced. They scored points and turned the game on its head.

After this pivotal Game 5 loss, NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins noticed that members of the media, as well as social media, were quiet. Most of them were talking about how Jokic’s teammates let him down. But Perkins took exception to this and wrote:

Bron gets tired at 40 years old and people question his greatness… but Jokic gets tired and its he needs more help. We gotta stop moving goal post.

Kendrick Perkins wrote

He was referring to some of his colleagues, analysts on other shows, as well as social media influencers who went on a run criticizing LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers’ exit. His injury or fatigue were deemed as excuses, but in Jokic’s case, they were quiet.

Charles Barkley reiterates his stance on Nikola Jokic’s fatigue

The full force of the national media has not yet come into effect. Once they do, Kendrick Perkins will know if they will hold Nikola Jokic to the same standard as they did to LeBron James. But Charles Barkley is not one of them. He has criticized Lakers HC JJ Redick for playing James that many minutes. In The Joker’s case, he reiterated that stance.

It has to be fatigue. Everybody gets tired. No player is going to say they are tired.

Charles Barkley said

Barkley talked about fatigue after the Nuggets’ Game 4 loss as well. He believes the three-time league MVP is too tired to continue battling at this level. The Hall of Famer wants his teammates to step up after their miserable fourth-quarter performances cost them Game 5.

Shaquille O’Neal‘s stand-in analyst for tonight, Dwight Howard, echoed the same. He believes the Nuggets should play their backup centers for a few minutes more. That way, he can conserve his energy for late-game situations which have cost them two straight games.

Fatigue might stop Jokic and the Nuggets’ season

The Denver Nuggets’ struggles with fatigue stem from their seven-game juggernaut against the Los Angeles Clippers. That series seems to have pushed the players into a situation where they are not being able to compete in late-game situations.

Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets' struggles with fatigue could end their season
Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets’ struggles with fatigue could end their season (Image via Open Source/X)

If they can somehow win Game 6 at home, they will have two days of rest before battling in Game 7. But the Oklahoma City Thunder will receive the same amount of rest, and they will be playing that game in front of their home crowd.

The difference in fatigue is evident. After the Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies in round 1, they had a full week of rest and practice. In contrast, the Nuggets only had one. This situation could end Nikola Jokic and his team’s run in this season’s playoffs. Fatigue is not something they can overcome this late in the season.

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