After Kyrie Irving said that he wasn’t against the NBA’s return in July, it has led to a divided opinion. Many players have come out and said that it is not appropriate to be playing now. But at the same time, another set of players have contradicted that.

But just nine days back, like former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins pointed it out, Irving was eager to join the Nets camp in Orlando. He wanted to be an inactive player, despite being reportedly fit to play. Perkins hit out at Irving on Twitter, blaming him for starting “unnecessary drama.”

Kendrick Perkins’ dislike for Kyrie Irving is nothing recent

Following Irving’s departure from the Celtics, reports of him being a toxic presence in the locker room came out. Many, including the former Celtic Perkins, were annoyed.

Back in June 2019, when Fox Sports’ Kristine Leahy asked him about his opinion on Irving’s potential Free Agency destination, he gave a cold response. “I really don’t care who Kyrie signs with,” Perkins said. “He really disappointed me the way he represented the Celtics this year, so I’d rather not even speak on it. I don’t care who he signs with.”

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While commentating during a Celtics @ Rockets in February this year, Perkins said, “Do you hear these chants right now? Let’s go Celtics. And Kyrie Irving didn’t want to play here. Every time I think of that guy, I want to throw up.”

He was also critical of NBPA’s move to replace Pau Gasol with Irving as the Vice President. “That’s gonna be the blind leading the blind,” said Perkins.

So Perkins’ distaste for Irving isn’t new but at the same time, it is not unwarranted. With the date for the resumption nearing, the NBPA will have to engage in conversation with the NBA again to come up with a plan of action. Just 10 days ago the NBPA had voted 28-0 to resume the season in Orlando. But following Kyrie’s comments, the voting might be done again.