Unlike Popular Opinion, ESPN Employee Kendrick Perkins Enjoys Getting Punched By Shaq & Charles Barkley: “Never Watched The Knicks”

One of the major attractions during the NBA is to watch NBA on TNT. A talk show hosted by the legends of the game such as Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. There is already enough banter on the show to sweep people off their feet as they end up hurting their stomachs and laughing. One such banter that made it to mainstream media was when Barkley and Shaw made fun of Kendrick Perkins after he had shared his opinion on the semifinal playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.

Recently Perkins came forward to answer a host of questions regarding their bonding at Brandon Scoop B Robinson’s Show. Perkins was asked about being punched by the duo and he took it in a light spirit.

Kendrick Perkins doesn’t mind being punched

Perkins who works for ESPN stated about their clash of opinions and the battle from there on. But one good thing about him was he was gracious all the while talking about his media peers and also enunciated how he didn’t mind being made fun of by Shaq and Barkley and instead took it in good stride.

“Well one: They got in their feelings, right? Because I was doing ESPN Radio New York and they were talking about the Knicks and I was like, ‘That is so false about the New York Knicks…‘ and the only people that would say certain things about the Knicks in this capacity is people who never watched the Knicks. So they brought up something about what Shaq and Charles said and I was like, ‘Those guys don’t watch basketball anyway. They ain’t really watching every game like that…‘ and they took it personal, right?” Perkins stated.

During the playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, Shaq and Barkley sided with the Pacers and opined that they were going to win the semifinal series. However, Perkins who had the Knicks as his favorites remarked that the duo didn’t watch enough basketball and missed the gameplay of the Knicks. This led Barkley and Shaq to take it personally.

“So next thing I know they shootin’ they slugs at me, you know what I’m sayin’? They punching at the punching bag even though I’ll fold Chuck like a fresh pair of clean sheets! [laughing]… and me and Shaq would just have to rumble in the jungle! [laughing]… But I enjoyed it man!” Perkins continued. 

Next Barkley and Shaq did a show on the NBA where the two brought up a punching bag and put Perkins’s picture on it. The duo then slammed a lot of punches on the 2008 NBA Champion and also questioned his balling skills. However, all this was by Perkins until Barkley took the net step.

Kendrick Perkins doesn’t like being called a roach

“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. Like, c’mon dog I ain’t do no name calling. You gonna call me a roach? C’mon dog. That’s the worst of the worst. Like, c’mon man. A roach? That’s what y’all on? We kill roaches in Black neighborhoods. They’re everywhere. From 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?” Perkins argued.

Barkley next called Perkins a roach which didn’t go down well with him. And he enumerated the same in the interview. But Perkins also didn’t take it to heart as many fans had opined and how the narrative was being made in the media. The media was rife with speculation that there was a beef between Perkins, and Shaq and Barkley. Perkins however with this interview put all these rumors to rest. From his interview, it looked as if he had taken all of it in a light spirit and instead enjoyed being punched.

As for the point of contention that started this debate, the Pacers won the series by a 4-3 margin and Shaq Barkley’s prediction came true about the clash. Hopefully, after watching this interview even Shaq and Barkley will account for the things Perkins didn’t like and might also come forward with their take on it. Hopefully, the three veterans will be able to cool things down among themselves and who knows may do a show together someday.

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about WNBA star rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.