Kendrick Perkins is a former NBA Player. He is also an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics. They managed to defeat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals back in 2008 to make the NBA Finals. Additionally, the Celtics went on to defeat the Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers to win “Big-Perk” his first and only NBA title.
LeBron James joined the NBA in 2004. And just 4 years later, he was battle-tested and ready to dominate the Eastern Conference. Kendrick Perkins reveals the pressure and fear he felt to face King James in Game 7 of the ECF back in 2008.
The NBA is quick to forget what prime LeBron was capable of doing. He entered perhaps one of the worst teams in the East at the time, the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he managed to quickly turn their future around within his first few years there.
Kendrick Perkins prayed and hoped that something would happen to LeBron James
The Celtics- Cavs matchup in 2008 garnered attention from around the world. This was the first time a superteam had met its match in a group led by a sole superstar. Perk reveals exactly how he felt heading into game 7 of that series.
“We played the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008 and it was a game 7 right we had just lost game 6, and I ain’t gonna lie man. I was scared as hell going into that Game 7 against LeBron James, and this was the only time that I actually prayed that something happens to him at practice.”
JJ Reddick, another former NBA player, on the set with Perk jumped at this statement. He had probably never heard Perkins say something as controversial as this. “What a thing to confess!” He said.
Big Perk did not backtrack on his words. Moreover, he went on to explain exactly how dark his thoughts became just to avoid facing LeBron. JJ had no idea what else Kendrick Perkins was about to say. Therefore, he was thoroughly amused by this dramatic bit of information Perkins was revealing.
“I know, but I’m being real like I was like let us get breaking news that LeBron has torn his ACL or something, I did bro like I’m not even lying I’m not even exaggerating… That’s how terrified I was of Lebron“.
One must truly wonder whether Kendrick was exaggerating. However, considering Lebron eliminated the Detroit Pistons in the previous year’s ECF to make the NBA Finals, this is no exaggeration. We should all be thankful Perkins simply wished LeBron was injured and did nothing about it.