Kendrick Perkins isn’t staying quiet after Bill Simmons took a jab at his NBA Draft analysis, and the fireworks have officially gone public.
Simmons, the founder of The Ringer and a longtime NBA media personality, criticized ESPN’s coverage of the 2025 NBA Draft, specifically mocking Perkins’ claim that Toronto’s pick at No. 9 made them a top-six seed contender in the East. The remark prompted Simmons to joke that he was “searching for a third ESPN” channel to watch instead.
But Perkins was having none of it.
Perkins Unloads on “Cupcake [Expletive]” Simmons
In a fiery video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Perkins unleashed on Simmons, calling him a “cupcake [expletive]” and accusing him of always having his name in his mouth. He went on to question Simmons’ basketball credentials entirely.
“What have you done, period, in the game of basketball? Have you ever played?” Perkins asked, clearly annoyed. “You feel like you’re sitting on this throne. You got in your feelings.”
The former NBA big man even suggested that Simmons had a few drinks before sounding off on ESPN’s coverage, adding:
“Man, shut up. You didn’t think before you started drinking them Heinekens.”
Simmons’ NBA Resume Speaks for Itself
While Perkins may question Simmons’ impact on the game, fans of NBA media know Simmons’ resume is nothing to scoff at. He’s a former ESPN analyst, a two-season panelist on NBA Countdown, and the author of The Book of Basketball, which remains a staple among hoops aficionados—even 2025 draft pick Kon Knueppel reportedly read it.
Simmons also carved out his reputation through years of smart (and often humorous) NBA Draft coverage on ESPN’s Page 2, and continues to host insightful interviews with league insiders like Kevin Durant, Daryl Morey, and Doc Rivers.
Will Perkins Fire Back Again?
Perkins promised that more was coming on his next episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast, once he’s finished “doing his research” on Simmons.
Whether this spat fizzles out or turns into a long-running media beef remains to be seen. But for now, the message is loud and clear, Kendrick Perkins isn’t backing down.
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