“Did Giannis Die?”: NBA Champion’s Surprising Take Shocks Kendrick Perkins

With the NBA season now reaching conference finals, people have already formed their opinions on the top 5 players. With the 2023-24 KIA All-NBA team announcement imminent, another legend has given his take on the matter. The opinion according to Kendrick Perkins was so shocking that he had to utter the words “Did Giannis Die?”

On the Road Trippin’ podcast, Perkins was alongside the hosts Allie Clifton, Channing Frye, and Richard Jefferson. Herein, Allie Clifton asked Perkins and Frye to name the top 5 players of this year’s NBA season.

Frye said, “In no order here’s who I thought played the best this year, no order. Uh SGA if I had a vote I would have voted him MVP. Then Jokic, Luka, Tatum, and Brunson. Those are the five best players that played this year.” Perkins was shocked to not see Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name on the list and asked Frye to include him. But even Frye was surprised by this suggestion.

“Giannis? are you tripping? come on man.” But according to the announcement on the 22nd, the Greek Freak has made it to his sixth consecutive First Team All-NBA honors. Antetokounmpo averages 30.4 points this years with shot better than 60% in 28 of the 43 games he has played this season. He also posted 8 40+ and recorded a franchise-high 64 points in a clash against the Indiana Pacers.

You would think, considering the stats and that by asking for the Milwaukee Bucks player to be part of the list, Perkins might have added his name to his list. Well, he did not. He had 5 players and all were in order. 1 Jokic 2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 3 LeBron James 4 Anthony Edwards 5 Luka Doncic.

Perkins and Frye also disagreed on one other thing, who should be the Lakers’ new head coach.

Kendrick Perkins on JJ Redick

Perkins previously had said Redick was a good fit but had to change his attitude. “But the one thing that I feel like JJ Redick is going to have to do is lose that snobby duke attitude… Going into that locker room, it’s one thing to have a high basketball IQ and know your exes and O’s, but it’s another thing to make sure you gather the ears of that locker room,” Perkins said.

On the other hand, Frye was not pleased to see Redick jump the gun and join the vacant position. “I think it’s a death sentence. I think he’s jumping on a grenade. … As a first-year coach, I wouldn’t recommend that job for anybody.”

Perkins also admitted on the podcast that Redick pretends not to follow social media but is everpresent listening to opinions. He said, “he’s (Redick) always watching. He know too damn much.” The 39-year-old is reported to be a favourite in Lakers candidate race but analysts seem to disagree. While his close association with LeBron James has been deemed advantageous by some, it also forms the base of disagreement, added on by his lack of experience. It now remains to see who takes the win among Perkins and Frye when the Lakers declare their pick.