Amid Career Boost Rumors After Massive ESPN Layoffs, NBA Champion Fires Back at Haters With ?Favorite Kobe Bryant Moment?

ESPN has been going through a major upheaval. While basketball conversations shift closer to drama and storylines, ESPN leaned further into the idea. In a mass layoff, the company fired 20+ on-air personalities including veterans like Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose. Remaining with the team, however, were controversial names like?Mad Dog Russo, among others. While they provide quality content, most of it is narrative or hot take based. Among them, one of the most controversial names had a very interesting revelation about Kobe Bryant.

However, fans did not buy it and took to social media to call?cap?on him. Now, the former NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics has fired back.

Kobe Bryant was all praise for former Boston Celtics center

Kendrick Perkins has kept himself in the spotlight post his playing career. Shifting from sports to analyst, the ESPN mainstay has quickly built a nefarious reputation for himself. Whether it be locker room secrets or hot takes, KP is never one to shy away from voicing his opinion. One such incident happened on?First Take.

When the crew started discussing their favorite Kobe Bryant moments, everyone pitched in. Stephen A. Smith, who has spoken at length about ESPN’s layoffs, revealed his two favorite memories.?The moment that had fans talking, though, came from Big Perk.

The 38-year-old revealed an incident in Vegas when he met Bryant. Kobe embraced Perkins and gushed about his defensive prowess. However, fans were disbelieving the fact and took to calling Perk a liar. But the Boston Celtics legend responded with a clip of Kobe talking about the big man. The Black Mamba said, “He’s one of the best one-on-one post defenders in the league. He’s that great in the low post and that gives them an added presence. He’s also a great help defender and screen-roll defender.”?

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The 38-year-old captioned the post, “This for some of those (Clowns) out there that were yelling (Cap) when I told my Favorite Kobe Bryant moment on First Take on Friday!!!! Happy Sunday and Carry the hell on?”

With proof backing him, perhaps it can further help Perkins’ standing at ESPN.

Perkins up for promotion

The story about ESPN’s mass layoffs has been around the news block for some time now. However, days after firing tens of on-air personalities, it seems like the network has a big upgrade in the works. One of its most-watched shows is NBA Countdown.

While Perk has been a regular on First Take and Get Up, it seems like a shift to Countdown is inevitable. Although controversial, Perkins is a constant draw, and segments with him regularly attract high numbers. Perhaps it’s the attitude or the hot takes.

Either way, it seems like things are finally settling down at the media giants. What are your thoughts on Perkins sharing the Kobe clip? Let us know in the comments.

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