The MVP conversation in the NBA always gets a little heated every year, but this year things are feeling extra spicy.
That’s mostly because of ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins. The former NBA player had a lot to say about Nikola Jokic over the last few weeks.
For example, Perkins said Jokic is padding his stats and pointed to that as why his numbers are so gaudy as if they still don’t contribute to winning. Jokic had some fun with that one, though.
One thing that wasn’t so fun, though, was when Kendrick Perkins seemed to allude to Jokic being the front-runner for a potential 3rd straight MVP trophy because he’s white. He got into a full-blown argument with JJ Reddick on First Take behind this one.
This was his argument in a nutshell.
“When it comes down to guys winning MVP since 1990, it’s only three guys that won the MVP that wasn’t top 10 in scoring…Steve Nash, Jokic and Dirk Nowitzki. What do those guys have in common?”
– Kendrick Perkins pic.twitter.com/NuE5yNKjry
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 1, 2023
Perkins also argued that 80% of the NBA’s MVP voters are white, but it turns out that’s actually incorrect, too.
I hope Kendrick Perkins apologizes for implying that there's racial bias in NBA MVP voting based on the misinformation he claimed as "facts" yesterday. First Take correcting him publicly is a good step, but the damage done is irreversible at this point. pic.twitter.com/3gV3aGjgRg
— WADE 🏀 (@Its_Wade) March 8, 2023
Perkins has been called out for this on a few occasions already. Charles Barkley, for example, absolutely blasted Perkins for this take.
He also made fun of him on Inside the NBA for it and it was hilarious. Shaq said he would vote for Giannis Antetkounmpo for MVP. Barkley came back immediately by saying “you’re only doing that because he’s Black.” And then everyone just lost it.
Charles Barkley "comes off the top rope" to throw shade at Kendrick Perkins pic.twitter.com/WeHpad9G1G
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 10, 2023
The best part of this was Jamal Crawford begging for Ernie Johnson to come in and save the crew. Meanwhile, Ernie needed some saving, too. It was that funny.
Look, there’s a conversation about race and the NBA that can definitely be had — just as there is with virtually everything else in America. No one can plausibly deny that.
But this one doesn’t really feel like it’s it. If Nikola Jokic wins his 3rd MVP this season, it’s because he’s been a statistical anomaly — not because he’s white. He deserves credit for that.
If that credit comes in the form of another MVP? So be it.