Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins is giving back to Southeast Texans this holiday season. Perkins was born and raised in Beaumont. He worked with his team, the Beaumont Panthers, to give presents out to families in need. Perkins tells 12News he’s been blessed, and wants to make sure others in the community have a special Christmas. “We wanted to start from the ground surface of things as far as touching in the community and establishing our identity because yes it’s about basketball, but it’s also about giving back to those in need,” he said.