Big Perk Speaks: Kendrick Perkins on Celtics Regrets, LeBron, and the State of the NBA

It’s often said that we learn more from our losses than our wins, and for Kendrick Perkins, that couldn’t be more true. The 2008 NBA champion has spent his post-playing career as one of basketball’s most respected and outspoken analysts, and he brought that same frankness to the latest episode of Scoop B Radio. Perkins didn’t shy away from the phantom pain of the championships that got away, chief among them the 2010 NBA Finals, where a knee injury sidelined him against the Los Angeles Lakers. In this wide-ranging and candid interview, Perkins pulls back the curtain on the mental and physical toll of a major injury, the unspoken code of championship brotherhood, and the high-stakes soap opera that is the modern NBA. 

He also delves into the complex, years-long animosity between Paul Pierce and LeBron James, which started well before their legendary playoff clashes. Perkins gives a raw account of his grueling ACL rehab, citing New England Patriots legend Wes Welker as a key influence on his recovery process. 

The conversation offers a unique look at the personal rivalries and enduring grudges that shape the league’s narrative. Perk holds nothing back in discussing Ray Allen’s controversial departure to the Miami Heat, clarifying why the move caused such an intense rift within the Celtics’ core. His takes on the current contenders, from the rejuvenated Lakers to the emerging Thunder, prove why he remains one of the most compelling voices in basketball analysis today.

Check out the Q&A Below – 

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do you buy into the notion that had you not torn your ACL against the Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics would’ve won that series?

Kendrick Perkins: I always buy into it. I know that this may sound crazy, but you ALWAYS remember the championships that you didn’t win more than the championship that you actually won. Like man, I was there. We should have had two or I should’ve had three… So when people come up to me, especially Celtics fans, and they’ll be like, Man if you didn’t get injured y’all would’ve had another one… I’m like, ‘Yeah. It’s some truth to that.’ Because in that series, each team that won the rebounding battle every game, won the game, right? And so I take that load off of Rasheed Wallace and KG who was aging at the time, both of them dealing with injuries going up against that [Lakers] frontline in [Andrew] Bynum, [Pau] Gasol and Lamar Odom. And so, you do think about that and plus, our starting five: [Rajon] Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul [Pierce], KG and myself when healthy we NEVER lost a playoff series. So there’s some truth to that.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: What was your rehab process like following the ACL injury?

Kendrick Perkins: I didn’t know what to expect because you hear so many stories, you know what I mean? You hear, It’s gonna be hard. You’ll never come back the same… but one person that I leaned on was Wes Welker because he was playing for the Patriots at the time. He had an ACL tear and he was back in 5 ½ months on the football field playing. And so, he gave me some advice about what to do, how to make sure I keep it in the machine that keeps it rotating up and down, making sure I ice all day all night long; making sure that I put everything into my rehab — and so, that’s what I did.

And I stayed up in Boston. Boston has some of the best doctors in the world. The Celtics have some of the best doctors in the world and STILL do to this day. You see the videos of Jayson Tatum off the Achilles, so you know. The process was hard because that was my first real injury that sidelined me, like a leg injury; and so when you go through something like that and you start missing part of the season and you start seeing your team and your guys take off and they’re having success without you, it starts to affect your mental — on top of going in every day and having to slowly ramp up to get yourself back into form to actually play the game of basketball or even walk without a brace, right?

So it’s those steps even in life where you just have to go from being on crutches to all of a sudden the doctors are saying that you don’t need the crutches anymore, and then all of a sudden you’re taking off the brace. So it’s just staying the course and not looking ahead, just making sure you do everything that you need to do as far as your rehab, you know what I’m sayin’? Icing and all that stuff when it comes down to your treatment.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: I read somewhere online that you and Kevin Garnett got into a boxing match, fight or something when you two were Celtics teammates. Is that true?  

Kendrick Perkins: Naw. Me and Ticket never bumped heads. We bumped heads when we weren’t on the same team — when he was in Minnesota, they had to hold us back and we were about to meet in the tunnel back when we couldn’t stand one another. But as for us being teammates? We never ever had an issue whatsoever.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Why did Kevin Garnett treat Ray Allen like he didn’t exist after Ray joined LeBron and the Miami Heat?

Kendrick Perkins: Because it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it, right? I think more so — you gotta realize when Ray left, I was already gone, but the tension and beef between the Heat and the Celtics was REAL, right? Paul, ‘Bron… all them, right? It was REAL!

And so, you gotta realize that they had just lost to those guys and Ray wasn’t happy with his role, you know? He was starting to come in off the bench, he turned down money to go to Miami, and to be honest, he didn’t give ‘em a heads up. When you win a championship with a group of guys, you feel like that’s your family and y’all tied together forever — like no one should be able to break that up and communication should ALWAYS be there in some form, right?

And the communication part wasn’t there, so it was just more so about how Ray did it when he did it, if that makes sense. Like, when he left, it caught KG by surprise; he was like, “Damn! I couldn’t get a call? We couldn’t go to dinner?” Like, when Bron left and went back to Cleveland, him and D-Wade and [Chris] Bosh went to dinner and ‘Bron told them. So you know, it’s that type of deal.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Why did Paul Pierce have so much disdain toward LeBron James?

Kendrick Perkins: Well, you gotta realize that beef with ‘Bron and Paul didn’t just happen overnight — and it didn’t start during those runs through the playoffs, even when ‘Bron was in Cleveland. This started in his rookie season, my rookie season — I believe we were down in Columbus, Ohio, you know what I mean? It was a preseason game and they got into it, and you probably heard the stories. Paul said something to ‘Bron and ‘Bron said something back to Paul, and Paul kinda spat at their bench or whatever — and ever since then, it was ALWAYS tension between those two.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do you think LeBron James and Paul Pierce will ever bury the hatchet?

Kendrick Perkins: I don’t know. To be honest… S--- Scoop, to be honest with you, there are people to this day that were close friends that haven’t buried the hatchet yet, right? We see [Charles] Barkley and Mike, right? They were real close friends as players. Something happened throughout their post-career and they haven’t buried the hatchet.

So I don’t know, but the one thing that I can applaud Paul on of late is that he has been giving ‘Bron his just due. He has been giving ‘Bron his flowers, like lately, you know what I mean? So I don’t know. Maybe if they ever… you know, I feel like when it comes down to certain situations like that, all you gotta do is cross paths, you see what I’m sayin’? You cross paths and you catch somebody in traffic, and all of a sudden it’s different. As you grow older, you tend to let s--- like that go.

So I’m not saying they never will, and I don’t know if I can see it. It wouldn’t surprise me if they do. But ‘Bron is the type though — I will say that. ‘Bron is the type of person that once you get on his bad side, he holds grudges! [laughs]

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: After LeBron unfollowed you on Instagram, did you two ever make peace or talk things out?

Kendrick Perkins: I haven’t, you know what I’m sayin’? Me and him are both bullheaded, right? Like, we are both men, you know what I mean? I’m not sayin’ if we cross paths it’s gonna be some blows or some disrespectful words — it might get us back on talking terms. As of today? Naw. I’m not reaching out to him. He damn sure ain’t reaching out to me, and guess what? He’s not losing sleep at night and I’m not losing none either!

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: What do you think the outcome of the NBA Finals would’ve been if Tyrese Haliburton hadn’t gotten hurt against Oklahoma City?

Kendrick Perkins: I mean, he got off to a hot start, but I still believe that the Thunder was going to pull that off. It is extremely difficult to win in that arena — especially in the playoffs, ESPECIALLY in the NBA Finals, and ESPECIALLY in a Game 7, right?

And so, you really gotta give a lot of credit to him for being out there. I thought he got off to a hot start, but I still think the vibe was giving me and telling me that OKC was going to pull that out. Now, the game would’ve been closer and it wouldn’t have been a beatdown — and they got their a--es kicked in that Game 7 — but obviously when your star player goes down, your franchise guy, your head of your snake, guys get deflated, especially on the road.

But it would’ve been closer. I still would’ve given the slight edge to the Thunder. I just think SGA was on a different type of mission, and in that arena they play with a different type of swag.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do you think the Oklahoma City Thunder can repeat as champions?

Kendrick Perkins: I do. I think it’s gonna be harder, right? And I always say trying to go and repeat — going for that first championship, Scoop, like you’re starving, right? And that second one? Like, you may be hungry but you’re not STARVING! It’s a difference, and I just wanna see if they’re still starving for more, right?

Because are you going to be losing sleep throughout the course of the playoffs because you’re down 0-1? That care factor by committee — is it gonna be there? The sacrifice by committee — is it gonna be there? Because the thing is, when you have success as a young team, guys want more individually for themselves, right?

And on top of that, the Western Conference — they got better, you know what I’m sayin’? Dallas is gonna be right there, and you talk about ACL with Kyrie [Irving] and the videos that’s been circulating of Kyrie… I mean, it looks like he’s gonna be back sooner than later, know what I mean? I don’t know if he’s gonna be there for the start of the season, but all I’m saying is that I’ve been seeing workout videos with him without the knee brace — you know what I mean? So that tells me he’s getting basketball in.

So again, you got the veteran and the senior citizens with the Golden State Warriors — for real, they loaded up! Have you seen Steph’s interviews? He looks focused, bro! And not only does he look focused, but he’s in shape. He answered that Jonathan Kuminga question perfectly. When they asked him about his agent, he said, “I don’t care about what his agent gotta say, I’m talkin’ to JK.”

That means when you go try to win a championship, you don’t give a damn about distractions, you know what I’m sayin’? You don’t wanna hear the outside noise. So right there I was like, Oh s---. It’s real.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: What do you make of the Los Angeles Lakers heading into this season?

Kendrick Perkins: The Lakers are not far off, man. I got the Lakers right behind Houston and OKC. I think people are sleeping on LA because I believe that DeAndre Ayton — we’re gonna see the Phoenix Suns NBA Finals run DeAndre Ayton, right?

Marcus Smart — I believe that he’s still in his prime. I know that he was with the Wizards and that didn’t work out, but he wasn’t playing for nothing. Now he’s back and he’s got new life again. He’s actually playing for something, right? Jared Vanderbilt? He’s healthy, right? The growth of Austin Reaves.

JJ Redick is going into his second year, having a full year under his belt with playoff experience, and he still has a helluva staff with Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks. And so again, the Lakers — and Bron — has to be pleased. And you gotta remember, before the offseason ‘Bron said, I’m sitting back and watching the moves that the Lakers are gonna make.

‘Bron has been smiling ear to ear in training camp. That means he’s happy.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: This time next year, do you see LeBron returning as a Laker or going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Kendrick Perkins: He’s unpredictable, bro. You just never know. I see LeBron James retiring as a Laker, but you just never know what he has in the pipeline. Would it surprise me if his last stint was in Cleveland? No. But he’s unpredictable, so I don’t know. And again, it ain’t like he did a contract extension, you know what I’m sayin’? So we don’t know. That’s the beauty about it though.

But I will say the one thing that I will do is appreciate this year from LeBron James because, like he said, he ain’t waitin’ on Bryce — so that tells me that he ain’t got too many more years left and we ain’t got too much of LeBron.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: I still see LeBron looking to become teammates with Bryce James. He did it with Bronny and the Lakers; do you see a similar scenario with Bryce? 

Kendrick Perkins: I’m with you, but here’s the thing… I think Bryce is on a different journey than what Bronny was on. I think one thing that you should note is that LeBron basically said Bryce is on his own basketball journey. See, that’s key content when he says stuff like that, meaning that this process might not be rushed, right?

Bryce is down there with one of my Day Ones that I grew up with; I actually lived with him, the assistant coach from Arizona, you know what I’m sayin’? Bryce is in their lair. Bryce is developing. Bryce is working more on his body, right? Like, it’s a different type.

So I don’t know. And like you said, at times he [LeBron] is predictable, but I believe him this time when he says, “I’m not waiting on Bryce because I don’t know if Bryce is going to be a one-and-done…” Bryce may be that one that stays in college 1–2 years, 3, and maybe even 4 years because, what’s the rush, right? He might have a different journey than what Bronny had.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Hypothetically, if LeBron decides to walk from the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency next offseason, do you think a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers again fits better than LeBron joining the Dallas Mavericks?

Kendrick Perkins: I mean, ‘Bron is still in Cleveland a lot, right? Last time I checked, he still owns that big a-- compound outside of Akron. So, to me, it makes sense toward the end of his career to go back home.

It makes zero sense for him to go down to Dallas. Like, that makes no sense whatsoever. For what? You’re still going to be in the tough Western Conference. What do you want to go to Dallas for? Who do you know down in Dallas besides Anthony Davis?

But if you’re Dallas, do you want to stunt the growth for a 1-year rental for LeBron James? And stunt the growth of a Cooper Flagg? I wouldn’t.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Are you buying in on the Minnesota Timberwolves as Western Conference contenders?

Kendrick Perkins: I buy Anthony Edwards. That’s who I do buy. Because this is a guy that experienced pain last year. Although he carries himself and you can never see if he’s hurting a lot, he has that smile on his face… Anthony Edwards went into the offseason with pain and he went into the offseason with jealousy — and jealousy in a good way.

And when you think about the Minnesota Timberwolves, you think about Anthony Edwards. Look around the league: think about Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, Zion Williamson. All of ‘em should be jealous or envious of SGA because not only did he win the NBA Championship, he won the NBA Finals MVP, NBA MVP, scoring title, and showed ‘em how to get it done.

And so I see Anthony Edwards as a person that’s saying, “Hey man, sheeeeit… I wanna score a whole lot of points, I wanna win the MVP, I wanna win the NBA Championship, and I want my teammates to hold me accountable.” So I can never count him out. If a team is led by Anthony Edwards, I can never count them out. Are they my favorite? No. Am I gonna count them out? Hell no! But that’s the beauty of the West.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Between the Knicks and the Cavs, who do you like heading into the season?

Kendrick Perkins: I like the Knicks. I don’t trust the Cavs. A Donovan Mitchell-led team has NEVER made it to the Conference Finals, so I know what Big Body Brunson is capable of doing. The key is going to be Karl-Anthony Towns.

But the Knicks have addressed a lot of the issues that they needed to address as far as the bench. They got depth now. And now I’m looking at the preseason game and they went with the big lineup with Mitchell Robinson at the 5, Karl-Anthony Towns at the 4, and Mike Brown said that we want to play with pace.

So I got more confidence in the Knicks than I do the Cavs.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Between Ben Simmons and Russell Westbrook, who do you think will get signed first?

Kendrick Perkins: Ben Simmons is dead bird tall grass. His agent just walked away from him. What makes you think a team is going to walk through the front door?

Now the thing with Russ is, Russ will get picked up at some point. I think Russ has to open up and expand a little bit more and be willing to leave from the West Coast, okay? I feel like Russell Westbrook should have a spot on the Milwaukee Bucks. A lot of people don’t like it, but I believe he should. I think he should really consider it.

Now a lot of things come into play; obviously he has his family, he has his wife, he has his kids, and I get all that. But Milwaukee — I understand they think it won’t work because Russ can’t shoot with Giannis — but I’ll tell you what, it’s enough to get them to the playoffs, and then you bet on Giannis to get you through a playoff series, you know? It’s enough to win regular season games.

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Who do you think will come back from injury first, Jayson Tatum or Kyrie Irving?

Kendrick Perkins: Kyrie. I think Kyrie is gonna come back sooner than later. I just think that they’re being cautious, which they should, but I think Kyrie will be playing by Christmas.

Final Thoughts from the Former Champion