Deprived From Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley’s Privileges, ESPN Analyst Reveals Struggles With His Role

When Kendrick Perkins entered the ESPN studio as an official employee of the network, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had a combined two decades in the sportscasting business. They came off successful NBA careers, built their fame on Inside the NBA, and were inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame for their accomplished careers. Meanwhile, Perk had one championship more than Chuck, yet very few NBA fans consider him qualified enough for his polarizing takes. This means he has to try harder to fit into the sportscasting scene in comparison to Shaq and Chuck.

“I got to do my job because them people ain’t trying to hear as a Hall of Famer you know? What I’m saying, Ticket [Kevin Garnett], you if you want to go back in that space, Shaq, Barkley, you know Hall of Famers, they get a little bit more leeway to play the player side of things. I don’t. I don’t get that leeway,” Perkins said on The Knuckleheads Podcast, next to his old mentor and Hall-of-Famer, Kevin Garnett.

Perkins has burned some bridges and lost friendships since entering the sportscasting business in 2018. Not only has LeBron James unfollowed him online recently, but he’s also at odds with Kevin Durant. His tiff with Durant seemingly stings him the most. After James unfollowed him, Perk responded, “Everybody didn’t follow Jesus… I’ll be okay.” Durant had a somewhat snide comment to it, “Bro think he Jesus, lol.” The exchange continued for a while. Something that wouldn’t have happened with Shaq or Chuck.

Charles Barkley gets away with the ‘bus driver’ comment along with saying KD is not a leader but still has Durant’s respect. Shaq can tell Nikola Jokic that he didn’t deserve to be MVP yet maintain a hilarious banter about his bad Serbian skills. Perkins, on the other hand, didn’t receive the same treatment for commenting on either player.

Contrary to Perk’s broken friendships with Durant and James, he has a fun dynamic with his TNT counterparts. One filled with pettiness and hilarity.

Kendrick Perks vs Shaq and Chuck

Perkins saying that Shaq and Chuck are sleeping on the Knicks was not his most extreme remark. But accusing the TNT analysts of lazy analysis sparked a network and social media war where Shaquille O’Neal trolled him on Shaqtin a Fool style. TNT also aired Perk’s on-court fails.

Barkley even called him a ‘Roach’ and questioned if Perkins had a right to question him with a 5.4 PPG. The ESPN analyst went on a roach-related rant though he dismissed any beef with them.

TNT even offered a punching bag with Perkins’ face on it for Shaq and Chuck to vent. Perkins warned Chuck that he “ain’t ready” to take him on for real. It’s all in good faith though. No bridges burned here.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.