Was Kendrick Perkins the reason that the Oklahoma City Thunder, after a point, enjoyed Conference Finals trips? At least, the former NBA star himself believes so. OKC signed the 2008 NBA champ to a 4-year, $36 Million deal, not realizing that it would not leave them with enough resources to later retain James Harden. Something that brought questions from multiple media outlets against the Thunder making such a deal with Perk. The ex-NBA star, however, seems to have a completely different perspective on his time in OKC.

During his chat with Celebrity Barber Burger Brown, Perk emphasized himself as not crucial but primary for Thunder’s success during his time with the franchise. “When I was in Oklahoma City, they had trouble getting up out of the first round. Got there. Took them to multiple Western Conference Finals. To the Finals. Took them to the promised land. I took them to the promised land,” he said.

Now, if you’re an OKC fan—or just a basketball enthusiast—you’re probably scratching your head. Sure, Perkins was the Thunder’s center in 5 seasons that he appeared for the team. And yes, the team reached the Conference Finals twice. But let’s be honest: was he really the guy leading the charge? The stats paint a very different picture. For starters, Perkins never averaged more than 5.1 points per game in any season during his time in OKC.

His rebounding numbers weren’t exactly eye-popping either, hovering around 5.5 boards per game during the 3 full seasons he played with them. As a defensive stopper, his 0.9 blocks per game in these three seasons leave much to be desired. But what about the playoffs, you ask? Maybe Perkins flipped the switch when it mattered most? Not quite.

He never reached even the 5 points per game mark in any of his playoff appearances with OKC, his 2012-13 run was historically terrible. Perkins appeared in all 11 games that postseason, logging 19.1 minutes per game. His player efficiency rating (PER) during that stretch? Negative, at -0.6 (as per Basketball Reference). The article by Deadspin, however, states it to be -0.7, calling it the “worst to have ever been posted in the playoffs by a player who saw 200 minutes or more of floor time” till 2013.

And it’s not as if Perkins’s PER numbers are misleading in any way. In those 11 games, Perkins managed just 5 blocked shots and 24 total points. He also turned the ball over 23 times and grabbed only 41 rebounds—barely edging out his 39 personal fouls. Now, there is a possibility that Perk stated in good humor when he said, “I took them (OKC) to the promised land.”

Especially when there was a player like Kevin Durant on the team during Perk’s entire run with OKC, averaging 28.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1 block per game through the 5 seasons in which Perk appeared for the Thunder. While there is doubt regarding his claims, his love for the franchise has been quite obvious.

Kendrick Perkins believes the Thunder to be the second-best team this season

What makes a team stand out in the NBA? Is it the roster depth? The star power? Or maybe something more intangible, like chemistry? According to Kendrick Perkins, the Oklahoma City Thunder have that “it” factor, which he recently highlighted on ESPN’s NBA Today. The former NBA center is all-in on the Thunder’s vibe, from their spirited celebrations to their lively post-game interviews. But hold on—he’s not ready to crown them the best team in the league just yet. That title, he says, belongs to the Boston Celtics.

Now, let’s take a step back. We’re only a few weeks into the season, and yet debate shows and podcasts are already buzzing with championship predictions. One name that keeps popping up? The Thunder. Why? Well, it’s not just their immense talent but also how they function as a unit. Perkins had plenty to say about their chemistry when Malika Andrews asked him if OKC deserves to be called the best team right now.

“The second-best team, and they passed my eye test right behind the Boston Celtics. And look, you know, they bark and do all that in those post-game interviews. I can see when the team is jelling… Know when that team has that camaraderie on and off the floor. I could tell how they dress; it’s probably a fashion competition even when they’re on the road of who’s gonna wear the best fit,” he said.

And here’s the kicker–Perk thinks OKC will make the 2025 Finals to face his top team, the Celtics. But before that, he might have some explaining to do about his claims regarding leading the Thunder to playoffs during his time with the team.