Kendrick Perkins takes issue with ‘ROACH’ label from Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal

Perkins wants it to be known that certain words are off-limits.

Kendrick Perkins takes issue with ‘ROACH’ label from Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal, Kendrick Perkins and Charles Barkley

Kendrick Perkins recently got into a heated exchange with Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. The feud started when Perkins commented that Barkley and Shaq only watch the Knicks when they’re covering the game on TNT. He said that roaches are often associated with poverty and are killed in black neighborhoods, making the term a low blow.

Perkins took issue with being called a “roach”, and explained on “Scoop B Radio” that it’s a hurtful term, especially coming from another black man. Barkley responded by calling Perkins a “roach” and saying that he wouldn’t give attention to someone who averaged only five points per game.

The only problem that I had with it is that don’t call me no damn roach, bro. I ain’t on that. Don’t call me no roach… You gonna call me a roach? That’s the worst of the worst…From another black man to another black man you can’t never call nobody no roach. You might as well spit in my face. And I don’t have any beef with Charles or Shaq. My thing is the whole ‘roach’ thing. I don’t mind the punching bag, but the roach thing? C’mon man. What we on?
Kendrick Perkins on Scoop B Radio said

Kendrick Perkins emphasized that he doesn’t have a personal beef with Barkley or Shaq, but the “roach” comment was unacceptable. He laughed off the rest of the exchange, saying he’d “fold Chuck like a fresh pair of clean sheets” and “rumble in the jungle” with Shaq. In the end, Perkins wants to move past the feud, but he wants it to be known that certain words are off-limits, especially when coming from someone in the same community. 

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LeBron James unfollows Kendrick Perkins, but he won’t back down

Kendrick Perkins was unfollowed by LeBron James on social media after criticizing James’ comments about Kyrie Irving. Perkins had accused James of weaseling his way into somebody else’s moment and spoke out against his remarks on First Take. 

Perkins defended his support for James in the past, saying he had been lobbying and defending him on the show. However, he also stated that he won’t back down from speaking his mind, even if it means disagreeing with James. 

Imagine unfollowing me on Twitter, but you still got to wake up and watch me on TV every day. Because. I ain't going nowhere anytime soon – that's number one. Number two, I think LeBron James got sensitive over the last couple of weeks because I’ve been calling him out or have been speaking on things that he might disagree with. Like the firing of Darvin Ham or the coaching search of the Lakers or even having to touch on the Bronny James situation when it comes down to dealing with the draft.
Kendrick Perkins said on ESPN’s First Take

Perkins believes James has become sensitive in recent weeks, particularly regarding the Lakers’ coaching search and his son Bronny’s draft prospects. He also expressed his disappointment that James didn’t reach out to him personally about the issue, instead receiving a call from James’ agent Rich Paul.

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