Kevin Durant recently clapped back at Kendrick Perkins after the latter made a bold comparison between himself and Jesus.
"Bro think he Jesus. Lmao."
The incident began when Perkins criticized LeBron James for expressing his regret over not being Kyrie Irving's teammate anymore during his "Mind The Game" podcast. Perkins felt that LeBron's comments were an attempt to overshadow the ongoing NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.
Reacting to Perkins' criticism, LeBron unfollowed him on multiple social media platforms. Perkins, in response, posted, “Everybody didn’t follow Jesus, I’ll be OK,” suggesting that he was unbothered by the backlash. This comment drew a reaction from Durant, who mocked Perkins.
This exchange highlighted the tension between Perkins and Durant, who were once teammates on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite their history, the two have had several public disagreements since Durant's controversial move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Perkins has often criticized Durant, calling him a "coward" for joining a 73-win team and questioning his leadership and decisions.
Durant's response to Perkins' Jesus comparison added fuel to their ongoing feud. The irony of Perkins comparing himself to Jesus while criticizing LeBron for seeking the spotlight was not lost on Durant, who saw it as another instance of Perkins' over-the-top commentary.
Perkins' criticism of LeBron was centered on the timing and context of his comments about Irving. He accused LeBron of trying to insert himself into the Finals' narrative, suggesting that the focus should remain on the teams competing for the championship. However, this perspective did not sit well with Durant, who viewed it as yet another example of Perkins seeking attention through controversial takes.
Durant's mockery of Perkins was a reminder of their fraught relationship and underscored the ongoing tension between the two former teammates. While Durant's comment was brief, it was loaded with the history and animosity that has defined their interactions in recent years.
Durant's reaction to Perkins' comparison of himself to Jesus was a pointed critique of Perkins' penchant for hyperbole and self-aggrandizement. It also served as a reminder of the complex and often contentious dynamics between former teammates who have taken divergent paths since their time together in the NBA.
Kendrick Perkins' recent claim that LeBron James was trying to steal Kyrie Irving's spotlight during the NBA Finals is not only misguided but also a misunderstanding of the context and LeBron's status in the basketball world.
LeBron James is one of the most followed and influential athletes in the world. With his massive following and extensive media presence, he doesn’t need to steal the spotlight from anyone, least of all his former teammate Kyrie Irving.
When LeBron expressed his disappointment about not being Irving’s teammate anymore, it wasn't an attempt to overshadow Kyrie’s moment. Instead, it was a genuine expression of regret and admiration for Irving’s talents.
LeBron’s comments were more of a compliment to Irving than anything else. They highlighted Kyrie’s skill and the special bond they shared on the court. Everyone understands that Irving is an extraordinary player, and LeBron’s words only served to underscore that point during Irving’s impressive Finals run.
Perkins' reaction, suggesting that LeBron was trying to make the Finals about himself, missed the mark. LeBron’s statement came from a place of respect and longing for the days when they played together, which is a sentiment many fans and players can relate to. It's a testament to how good Irving is and how much he is missed as a teammate.
Moreover, Perkins' comparison of himself to Jesus was outlandish and unnecessary. Claiming such a title in response to social media drama detracts from the seriousness of the discussion and undermines any valid points he might have had. It crosses a line into self-promoting that is both inappropriate and off-putting.
LeBron’s comments about Kyrie Irving were genuine and complimentary, not an attempt to steal the spotlight. Perkins' criticism reflects a misunderstanding of the context and an unnecessary escalation of rhetoric. Instead of focusing on unfounded accusations, it would be more constructive to recognize the mutual respect and admiration that exists between former teammates like LeBron and Kyrie.
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The Milwaukee Bucks' decision to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard sparked even more Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors on social media. There were already reports that Antetokounmpo was considering his options and potentially forcing his way out of Milwaukee, and the Lillard move did little to alleviate the situation. Nevertheless, the weeks have gone by, and Antetokounmpo is still a Buck. More importantly, the team believes that's not going to change any time soon. "We have no indication that anything is really changing as far as our relationship with the player we think is the best in the world," a Bucks front office executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith. "We rebuilt on the fly, in a really challenging situation, but we think we did it as well as it could be done." Antetokounmpo trade rumors have cooled off around the league, and while anything can happen in the NBA, that doesn't seem likely at this point. "Do I think the star guys like Giannis (Antetokounmpo) or LeBron (James) are going to go anywhere? Nope. Is it possible? Sure is," said a Western Conference executive. Giannis chose to stay in Milwaukee with one of the most lucrative contract extensions in NBA history. He was overly critical of the team's effort last season, and another early playoff exit may have driven him to the edge. Even so, he's talked about how he wants to win "the right way," as opposed to chasing rings. That said, with head coach Doc Rivers' long list of questionable postseason performances and a championship window that could be closing right before their eyes, Giannis trade rumors will flood social media again if the Bucks get off to a slow start during the 2026-26 campaign.
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has stirred up a whirlwind, looking to fulfill his priority of bringing a frontline starter to New York. In his latest round of relentless phone calls, MLB insider Jon Heyman reports that Cashman spoke to San Diego Padres general manager, A.J. Preller, about two-time Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease. Cease has been a source of interest for MLB teams since 2022, when he pitched to a spectacular 2.20 ERA with 227 strikeouts in 184 innings, coming second in the Cy Young voting. Landing with the Padres last season, Cease again flashed potential, tossing to a 3.47 ERA with 224 strikeouts through 189.1 innings of work. That year, he placed fourth in Cy Young voting. But as much as Cease is talented, he is also flawed. In 2023, just after his best year, Cease posted a lackluster 4.58 ERA, and this season has been no better. Through 113.2 innings this year, Cease owns a 4.59 ERA with 144 strikeouts. Cease has been quite the strikeout artist since his debut, but the rest of his results haven’t always been that good. His 42 walks and 16 home runs surrendered on the year make him a risky bet. According to Heyman, the Yankees are one of four teams that have “checked in” on Cease. He notes that trading Cease is a long shot since the Padres are in contention, but they still may be inclined to do so as he is in the last year of his contract. One might also add that his performance this year probably won’t help them reach the World Series. For the Yankees, or any other interested team for that matter, dealing prospects or players for a slumping half-year rental might not be the best idea. Still, the Padres might just receive a decent haul for Cease since the market for spotless, front-line aces is non-existent at this trade deadline.
Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Callan Foote, Michael McLeod and Alex Formenton have been found not guilty by Justice Maria Carroccia in London, Ontario, according to reporting from The Athletic, after being charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving the 2018 Canadian men’s national junior team. Carroccia said that she did not find E.M.’s [the alleged victim] evidence “credible or reliable,” in explaining her reasoning. “Having found that I cannot rely upon the evidence of E.M. and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me,” Carroccia said. The allegations against Dube, Foote, Formenton, Hart and McLeod first became public in May of 2022, when reports emerged that Hockey Canada had paid to settle a lawsuit with a woman, known in court documents as E.M., who said she was sexually assaulted by eight players “over several hours” in a London hotel room on July 18, 2018. No charges were levied as a result of the initial investigation by local police, which was closed in February 2019, but the case was reopened after the 2022 report. Formal charges were then brought against the five defendants on Jan. 30, 2024. The trial began on April 22, 2025, and the verdicts were reached solely by Justice Carroccia after two mistrials influenced her to dismiss the jury. The NHL does not have a formal policy for players accused of or charged with domestic violence, sexual assault or similar crimes. Instead, the four players who were under NHL contracts at the time – Dube, Foote, Hart and McLeod – were granted indefinite leaves of absence by their clubs shortly before the charges were announced. All of them were pending restricted free agents on expiring contracts and were not extended qualifying offers, making them unrestricted free agents as of July 1, 2024. When asked about the playing eligibility of the defendants, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has continually deferred action until after a verdict was reached. While none of the players are formally suspended by the league, similar situations have routinely required some sort of permission from league offices for them to play in or return to the NHL. If teams approach any of them with a contract offer, they will presumably wait for that guidance before registering the deal.
The New York Mets are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East, but their pitching staff is still injury-ravaged despite the recent returns of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. Brandon Waddell (hip), Dedniel Nuñez (elbow), Max Kranick (flexor), Paul Blackburn (shoulder), Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (Achilles), Drew Smith (elbow), A.J. Minter (lat), Danny Young (elbow), and Christian Scott (elbow) are alll on the Mets' IL. The MLB Trade Deadline is July 31 at 6 p.m. EST, so the front office has one week to add healthy arms from around the league this season. ESPN's David Schoenfield predicted on Thursday that New York would trade for a Minnesota Twins reliever. "One guarantee of the trade deadline: The Mets will add to the bullpen, probably with more than one trade. Though the rotation still ranks fifth in ERA, that was built off a hot start," he wrote. "More importantly, the only Mets starter to complete six innings since June 7 has been David Peterson. As a result, manager Carlos Mendoza has run relievers Reed Garrett, Huascar Brazoban, Jose Butto and Ryne Stanek into the ground. The bullpen had a 2.78 ERA through May, but that figure is over 5.00 since the beginning of June (ranking near the bottom of the majors)." "The Twins have two high-profile relievers in [Jhoan] Duran and [Griffin] Jax, both of whom are under team control through 2027, so they'll be much more expensive than your usual short-term relievers if the Twins decide to trade one or both," he continued. "Duran would be harder to deal -- but bring more in return -- so we'll say Jax will go. Don't be fooled by his 4.09 ERA: He has 68 strikeouts and 12 walks in 44 innings with a 97-mph heater. He's an elite strikeout reliever, the type you want on the mound in October." The Mets are hot despite their injuries, as they're on a four-game winning streak and just swept the Los Angeles Angels. Next up is a road trip against the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. New York right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will face Giants right-hander Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA) on Friday.