What Happened to Kendrick Perkins?

Kendrick Perkins, born November 10, 1984, carved out a 14-year career in the NBA as a physically imposing center, known more for his defensive presence, rebounding, and locker-room leadership than scoring. Drafted directly out of high school in 2003 by the Memphis Grizzlies and immediately traded to the Boston Celtics, Perkins became an integral part of the Celtics' 2008 NBA Championship team, starting at center alongside Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. His tenure with the Celtics ended in 2011 when he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he continued to play a crucial role, helping the team reach the NBA Finals in 2012. He later had stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans before officially retiring from playing in 2019.

Following his retirement, Perkins quickly transitioned into a broadcasting career, joining ESPN as an NBA analyst in 2019. His directness, big personality, and willingness to offer unfiltered opinions, often dubbed 'hot takes,' quickly made him a recognizable and polarizing voice across ESPN's basketball programming, including 'NBA Countdown,' 'NBA Today,' 'First Take,' and 'Get Up.' His style has drawn both praise for its entertainment value and criticism for its controversial nature.

Perkins has been involved in several notable controversies during his media career. In 2021, he received death threats after comparing Giannis Antetokounmpo to Robin and Khris Middleton to Batman, a take he later discussed on his 'Road Trippin'' podcast in August 2025. In February 2023, he faced significant backlash for comments suggesting that racial bias among MVP voters skewed the award towards white players like Nikola Jokić, leading to a public apology from ESPN. In October 2024, an ESPN investigative report scrutinized Nilly, an NIL company co-founded by Perkins, for allegedly using predatory tactics with college athletes. Furthermore, his critical remarks about the Boston Celtics and their coach reportedly led to him being banned from Celtics' championship celebration events in November 2024.

Despite the controversies, Perkins' role at ESPN has continued to expand. He signed a multi-year contract extension with the network in October 2024, solidifying his position as a key basketball analyst. As of May 2026, Perkins remains highly active, frequently offering strong opinions on current NBA playoff series, player performances, and league rules. For instance, in April 2026, he commented on the NBA's 65-game minimum rule for awards, claiming players were planning load management absences before seasons even began. In May 2026, he delivered harsh critiques of the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers during their playoff runs and made a bold claim about beating Kevin Durant one-on-one. He also notably declared Victor Wembanyama as 'the new face of the NBA' in February 2026. Perkins has openly discussed his struggles with post-NBA depression after his playing career ended, highlighting his journey to finding a new purpose in media. His estimated net worth in 2025 was around $28 million, largely accumulated from his NBA career earnings of approximately $57.8 million and his lucrative ESPN contract.