Posted on 03/02/2023 12:24:50 PM PST by nickcarraway
Kendrick Perkins does not think Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic should win his third consecutive NBA MVP Award this year, and he has decided to go the race-baiting route in an attempt to prove his point.
Perkins said on ESPN’s “First Take” Wednesday that he believes Jokic has race on his side in the MVP discussion. Perkins, who was ripped by fellow ESPN analyst JJ Redick this week for accusing Jokic of “stat-padding,” accused MVP voters of historically changing the criteria for which player should win MVP based on skin color.
“When I come on here every single time and I ask what is the criteria for the MVP and how the goal posts have moved, I’m asking these questions for a reason,” Perkins said. “When I look at JJ and I hear him talk, and he’s so big in analytics and he’s a historian when it comes down to diving in deep and going back in history and talking about the evolution of the game, why did he never bring up this particular subject? When it comes down to guys being MVP since 1990, there’s only three guys that won the MVP that wasn’t in the top 10 in scoring. Do you know who those three guys were? Steve Nash, Jokic and Dirk Nowitzki. Now, what do those guys have in common? I’ll let it sit there and marinate so you can think about it.”
Perkins later doubled down with a video on Twitter, though he later deleted it.
Like many other analysts, Perkins’ job is to deliver hot takes. This is not the first time he has left some people scratching their heads while doing so.
Jokic is averaging a triple-double this season with 24.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 10.0 assists. The Nuggets are 44-19 and the top seed in the Western Conference. Perkins believes Joel Embiid, who is averaging 33.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, should be considered the MVP frontrunner.
Back in the day, sure.
“Spike Lee said basketball was a black man’s game.”
Except that it was invented by a white man, lol.
He believes they were lying for financial reasons.
Strawman argument. I specifically said arguments about “greatness”. Was Oscar Robinson or Elgin Baylor “greater” than LeBron or Michael? I do not believe that there is anyway to know.
I don't hear Doncic and Jokic bitching and moaning. What to make of today's NBA stars like Irving and Harden and Durant who once the current situation doesn't suit them demand to be traded? The players are running the league and that is not a good thing.
Anyone who would say so is a fool. Larry Bird beat blacks Johnson & Kareem (Lakers) in the 1984 Finals, and was MVP. He also beat blacks Akeem Olajuwon & Ralph Sampson (Rockets) in 1986 Finals and was also named MVP.
Not precisely, but I can see where you might conclude that. No, I think they are too smart to become in pointless arguments, that could result in real financial impacts.
<< “When it comes down to guys being MVP since 1990, there’s only three guys that won the MVP that wasn’t in the top 10 in scoring. Do you know who those three guys were? Steve Nash, Jokic and Dirk Nowitzki. Now, what do those guys have in common? I’ll let it sit there and marinate so you can think about it.” >>
Convenient cut-off date for Perkins. Before 1990 there were plenty of black players who won the MVP without being in the top 10 in scoring. Magic Johnson (3x). Willis Reed (‘70). Wes Unseld (‘69). And Bill Russell at least a few times. They were all great leaders, rebounders, and assist men. Just like white MVP winners Nash, Nowitzki, and Jokic.
Well, that’s the point of sports. What’s the fun if you can’t discuss it?
Until the early 80s, Centers almost exclusively won the MVP. Only four non Centers won the MVP in about 25 years. Since Moses Malone, Centers rarely win the MVP.
Robert Parrish, and Dennis Johnson, who are black, were also on the Celtics, as well as Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale.
Luka Doncic, another great European player, should be considered the MVP frontrunner
In the current toxic racial environment - entirely the fault of race baiters like Whoopi Goldberg and Al Sharpton - a great deal of the fun has been drained out of sports. I like recalling the play of Elgin Baylor, or Gayle Sayers without caring about their skin color. I almost adore Jackie Robinson, and thank God that he broke the color barrier, and improved both baseball and America. I despise barnacles like Sharpton and Goldberg who have attached themselves to him.
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson literally saved the NBA.
The game has changed from a center-dominated version into a more guard-forward one. Magic Johnson started that I think. When you have six-foot-nine players at guard the importance of the ‘big man’ at center is diminished.
Making stereotypical ASSumptions, SCHMENDRICK? White men can’t jump?
Charles Manson is laughing in his grave. He was only 50 years off.
Perkins is throwing race baiting bombs because he’s got a book coming out and race is a central theme of it.
You can say he was a visionary.
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