Anthony Edwards is playing at such a high level at the young age of 23, and many people believe that one day, he will be the face of the National Basketball Association. Kendrick Perkins was never considered the face of the NBA or even of the NBA franchises he played for. This morning, he reminded us again why ESPN probably shouldn’t have hired him. It seems like he constantly oversteps.
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When the ongoing “face of the league” topic came up on ESPN’s morning show today in regard to Edwards, Perkins took the opportunity to speak about everything but basketball.
“You got to check the boxes when you are the face of the league,” Perkins said on First Take this morning. “Yes, we know you have to have the signature shoe, you’re going to be in commercials, you are going to have the highlights, you gotta have the game. But you know what else you gotta have? You got to be a role model, right? And things outside the lines matter. Now, if you go down the list of all the faces of the league in the game. Look at Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, SHAQ, LeBron, Steph. These are all family men… married men with kids.”
The irresponsibility of women claiming Edwards as the father of their children has altered some people’s perception of him. Stephen A. Smith even had to step in and remind Kendrick Perkins that the conversation on First Take is supposed to revolve around sports—and that’s where it should stay.
Take a look at Perkins’s comments criticizing Edwards.
