It has been four years since Russell Westbrook made an All-Star appearance and 5 since he left the OKC Thunder. While he saw an improved stint with the Clippers, his steady decline in performance following his prime years with the franchise of 11 years hasn’t gone unnoticed. However, that seems to have got nothing on the Boston Celtics legend Kendrick Perkins who continues to place Westbrook in high regard.

Perkins shared a video of Russell Westbrook’s highlights on X, captioning it, “One of the Greatest Point Guards to ever lace them up.” The post showed Westbrook in his prime with the OKC performing his best dunks. The point guard had 3 seasons averaging triple-doubles per game therein and just one more with the Wizards the next year. All things considered, Perkins has kept Westbrook’s name among the top and not just once.

In 2023, Perkins included Westbrook in his top 5 point guards list, ranking him fifth. The first was of course Stephen Curry, followed by Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and John Stockton. For his 2023 season, Brodie averaged 17 points and 6.3 rebounds, compared to 15.9 and 5.8 with the Lakers the previous year. The latter of which became of point of feud between Perkins and the Thunder star.

Kendrick Perkins’ praise and criticism on Russell Westbrook

In 2022, Russell Westbrook found himself in a challenging position with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kendrick Perkins was vocal about it. On ESPN’s First Take, Perkins commented, “Russ’ behavior is coming cancerous to the team,” highlighting the growing tension surrounding Westbrook’s performance and attitude.

Moreover, Perkins emphasized that Westbrook’s attitude on the bench was problematic. He noted how Westbrook was often moping, complaining, and making snide remarks under his breath. These actions, according to Perkins, contributed to a negative atmosphere within the team, further complicating Westbrook’s situation. Perkins revealed Westbrook, who also happens to be the godfather to his middle child, had stopped talking to him over that.

However, Perkins has also shown significant praise for Westbrook on various occasions. In 2023, after Westbrook moved to the Los Angeles Clippers, Perkins remarked on ESPN that he had the potential to show the that could be the missing piece on a contender team. Perkins even stated that he felt Westbrook was an upgrade from John Wall and Reggie Jackson, recognizing his potential impact on a new team.

Interestingly, despite his criticism, Perkins’ respect for Westbrook’s talent and contributions remains evident.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.