Charles Barkley pokes fun at Kendrick Perkins controversy: ‘You’re only voting for him because he’s Black’
Former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins found himself in hot water this week after suggesting that the NBA’s MVP voting process is racially biased when Discussion of Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
On Thursday, NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley had some fun with the controversy on “Inside the NBA.”
From left, Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley look on during the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 19, 2023, at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. (Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)
When discussing their picks to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, fellow analyst Shaquille O’Neal picked the Milwaukee Bucks, saying that Giannis Antetokounmpo was his choice for MVP – this is when Barkley chimed in. had done
ESPN issues public apology after Kendrick Perkins claims NBA MVP voters are predominantly white
“You’re only voting for him because he’s black,” Barkley said, as the other panel members cracked up.
Last week, Perkins pointed to three players since 1990 who have won MVP despite finishing outside the top 10 in points per game: Jokic (in his first MVP campaign in 2020-21); Dirk Nowitzki (2006–07) and Steve Nash (2004–05, 2005–06). All three are white.
“What do those guys have in common? I’ll let it sit there and marinate. You think about it,” Perkins told “First Take” co-host Stephen A. said to Smith.
JJ Redick slams Kendrick Perkins’ suggestion NBA MVP voting is racially biased, criticizes format of ESPN show
That comment debated between “take first”. Co-host JJ Reddick And Perkins, along with Redick, implied that white NBA voters are racist.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins reports on the 2022 NBA Draft Combine at Winhurst Arena on May 18, 2022 in Chicago. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
Perkins also said that 80% of NBA MVP voters are white, prompting ESPN to issue a correction the next day.
“I want to correct something here from tomorrow’s show,” said ESPN host Molly Karim. “When Kendrick Perkins said that 80% of the NBA voters for the MVP award are white, the NBA publicly announces the voters every year, and upon review, it’s clear that the panel is much larger than the image Kendrick Perkins portrays. is diverse, and we wanted to make sure we got it right today.”
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This is not the first time Berkeley has weighed in on the issue, joining Denver’s Altitude Sports Radio earlier in the week and calling Perkins “one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s not going to give a damn about the idiots talking about him on TV,” Barkley said. “If I know the Joker [Jokic], he probably just got out of bed. Probably got a good night’s sleep. Nuggets, they won a tough game last night. [Denver head coach] Mike Malone Maybe they should have taken the day off and let them sleep in the day after that game. I’m pretty sure he’s not up for all this nonsense. ”
Former Auburn player Charles Barkley looks on during a Tigers game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama on Saturday. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
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“You can’t tell me, because the numbers don’t mean anything,” Barkley added. “Does he know how many white voters actually are, or did he just pull ‘80%’ out of his a–? My point is, if only five white people have won the MVP in the last 30 years, So it makes zero sense – his argument. Zero sense. Because if it did, we’d have a lot more white MVPs. … Wouldn’t the numbers be even worse?”
Jokic is currently averaging a triple-double and deserves to win his third straight MVP award.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
