Kendrick Perkins Compares Soical Media Hate to Racism Older Players Faced

During an episode of the Road Trippin' podcast, Kendrick Perkins compared the racism that early Black players in the league faced to the social media hatred that modern players face. 

Kendrick Perkins was a rock of a center who was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 27th overall selection of the 2003 NBA Draft. While he never put up a big stat line, Big Perk was an imporant part of several excellent teams. 

Perkins was a starter on the 2008 Boston Celtics team that won the NBA Championship. He was also a starter on the 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder team that made the NBA championship. 

Today, Perkins is known more for his role on ESPN, where he often makes waves with non-traditional takes. He was recently asked about an article that ranked Bill Russell as the Greatest Player in NBA history, noting that the racism that he faced was a hurdle that later players didn't have to. 

Arguing against the piece, Perkins opined: 

"I would never take what the guys, Bill Russells, and what they had to go through for us to be able to perform at a high level … or even be in the NBA, for the NBA to even exist. I wasn’t there. But I will say everyone’s had their own form of adversity. Back then, it was racism and death threats. But having to battle through the adversity of f*cking social media as a player elevates right up into there, when you talk about mental toughness."

Perkins is sure to face some blowback for his comments, but engagement is kind of the point for him and it is clear that he will get that.