Kendrick Perkins and Dell Demps’ story is one for the history book—but not the kind either wants to remember. Except Perkins has remembered it every waking moment. And whenever frustration has needed a face, Demps has got the spotlight without fail. Why? Well, the NBA star-turned-ESPN analyst still blames his former boss for shaving years off his career.

The issue is rather simple. The controversy stems back to a lie that the then-Pelicans general manager allegedly told the retired veteran. In July 2015, Perkins joined the New Orleans Pelicans on a one-year deal (at the veteran minimum, clocking at $1.49 million with a cap hit of $947,000), primarily as a mentor to Anthony Davis. But there was a catch: Even though the deal was for a solo season on face value, Demps had reportedly told Perkins how the team never “had a leader like you…we want you to retire here…be here the next two or three years”. The NBA champ was elated. In fact, Perkins was so thrilled with the promise that he refused to entertain any other teams. Until… reality struck HARD.

As per The Athletic‘s Joe Vardon back in 2020, “When Perkins’ contract was up that summer, there was no two-year deal for the vet minimum Perkins was hoping for. Only a call from Demps, who said, ‘I think we’re going to move in a different direction‘.” The ramification? Perkins, a player who’d earned almost $57 million from his NBA career, was left without a team during the 2016-17 season. He put on weight and ultimately had to find his way back into the league through a door he’d never wanted to knock. And that is something the broadcaster refuses to forget. Notably, during an appearance on the Road Trippin’ podcast earlier this week, the former player even used quite some colorful adjectives to describe the former Pelicans executive and the whole situation…

“Dell Demps, by the way, I don’t have a lot of people that I hate. I despise him, and I wish the worst for him in the basketball space. I’m not afraid to say it. I will tell him in his face — I can’t stand that m———–. No, I can’t. He’s a liar. He…lied to so many people. He’s a snake, and I hate him. And I’m gonna tell you why.”

“So, at the trade deadline, I get a text from Bron: ‘Hey, we’re about to come get you, m———–.’ No, matter of fact, I’m lying. Bron comes to New Orleans. He tells me, ‘We’re about to come get you, m————–. We want you a part of the team on the bench.’ I’m like, ‘All right, cool.'” At the same time, Kevin Durant also wanted to bring him back to the Thunder. “KD sends me a text and says, ‘Hey Perk, we want you over here in OKC.’ They like, ‘Coming to get you.’ I believe Cleveland offered a second-round pick for me at the time. This is the year that y’all won the championship now. This is also the year, I believe, that OKC lost the 3-1 lead to Golden State. So both teams are trying to trade for me to bring me back on the bench as one of the guys in the locker room.” But what did Demps do as the GM of New Orleans?

“[Dell Demps] comes to me and says, ‘I’m not trading you, Perk. We’re not trading you. We want you here for our locker room. You’re gonna retire a Pelican.” Thus, the golden opportunity to win a second title with the Cleveland Cavaliers, return to the squad, and engrave his name deeply in the League’s glorious plaque was missed. And yes, Perkins blames it all on Dell Demps.

Kendrick Perkins a boldly claimed, “I’m not blaming Dell Demps for the direction of my entire NBA career. But he played a huge f—— part. He took one or two years off my career. I could’ve been on a bench-clapping 1,500 times a season. Instead, he shortened my career—by being a snake and lying. I’ve told this story before. I’ll tell it again. I can’t stand him. He knows it. I saw him in Minnesota—he works in the front office there—and he couldn’t even look me in the eye.” 

Notably, a year after the player was axed from the Pelicans’ roster, he had to join the G league playing for the Canton Charge, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ affiliate. Not because he was particularly keen, but because he knew that was the only way after former Cleveland Cavaliers’ GM Koby Altman failed to find a place for him on the roster despite inviting him to training camp. And so began the struggle. “That was the most humbling thing in my life. You’re talking about 12-hour travel days, six- to 12-hour bus rides. Just different things. Layovers in the airport, not riding private. Having to practice at a church where you have to go lift weights and there’s a whole lot of senior citizens in there. You’ve got to share the machines with them, like, that type of s–t was humbling,” Perkins said, per The Athletic.

Demps, on the other hand, has never acknowledged the situation publicly. Yet, controversy has never left his side as…

Dell Demps was deemed a liar for a second incident

Back in 2019, when the Pelicans handed Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers, Perkins raised his voice again. Although he kept the story of lies discreet, it was clear he hated every bit of that decision. While the world watched the Lakers and Pelicans squabble over Anthony Davis, a storm was brewing backstage. Leaks flew. Fingers pointed. Eyes darted at Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka, and of course, Rich Paul. But hold on. On ESPN’s First Take, Magic dropped a mic bomb: Demps was the leak all along. The man swore to keep things private, then, as Magic claimed, whispered it all to LA-based reporters anyway. That betrayal stung.

Kendrick Perkins wasn’t surprised. He had already lit that bridge on fire. On the Maybe I’m Crazy podcast, he said, “I’ve only been a part of four [organizations]. Boston was great, OKC was absolutely great from top to bottom. Cleveland was good, especially I thought [David Griffin], who the Pelicans just got, he ran their organization at a high level. Now the Pelicans that was ran by Dell Demps? I hated it. I hated it because Dell Demps is a liar.” That’s not a grudge. That’s a scorch mark.

Perkins continued, “I’d rather you keep it straightforward…I never wish bad on nobody, but that was one guy that it made my day for him to get fired.” So if Demps lied to Perk, why would Magic get honesty? It all clicked. No wonder Johnson felt the Pelicans were playing dirty. Demps tried to rattle the Lakers. Eventually, he got fired. With Griffin now running the show, the Davis drama found its overdue reset.

When Kendrick Perkins picks a villain, he sticks to the script like it’s gospel. Years later, the smoke still rises from the bridge he burned with Dell Demps. From trade betrayals to leaked secrets, the man checked every box on Perk’s blacklist. In the end, Demps lost his job, the Lakers got their star, and Perk? He got the last word—loud, raw, and unforgettable. Some stories age. This one stayed flaming hot.