Former NBA player-turned-commentator Kendrick Perkins was a voice of reason on ESPN on Monday when it comes to discussing Caitlin Clark and the WNBA.
On the same day the network’s Pat McAfee used an allegedly unintentional derogatory term when discussing Clark and Monica McNutt questioned Stephen A. Smith’s historic commitment to covering the WNBA, Perkins blasted the narrative that the league’s veterans have been petty and jealous of Clark’s arrival.
Perkins challenged even some of his ESPN co-workers like Smith, McAfee and Sharpe on being careful with what words they use when discussing the league’s veteran players, specifically asking McAfee to apologize for how he discussed Clark earlier in the day (which he now has).
“I’m looking at guys like Charles Barkley, LeBron James, Stephen A., Shannon Sharpe. Why do I point out those four guys? You have to be careful about the words you put out there…Pat McAfee, I think he owes everyone an apology, especially Caitlin Clark.” pic.twitter.com/zDoyNNzCGy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2024
WNBA veteran and fellow ESPN broadcaster Chiney Ogwumike commended Perkins for his well-reasoned argument, one that the entire sports media world could take a closer listen to as Clark and the WNBA continue to dominate the discourse.
Feature image courtesy of ESPN.
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