Kendrick Perkins attacks Rudy Gobert in viral rant

Kendrick Perkins is upset about his selection as NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Perkins went on a rant against Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert on Tuesday morning's edition of ESPN's “First Take.” The former NBA champion said it was “the biggest regret of my media career” that he voted Gobert as Defensive Player of the Year this season. Perkins also claimed he was giving up his right to vote because of it.

“I have deep regrets in my media career and I am retiring from voting for individual and regular season awards because I did not properly use my voting power,” Perkins said. “I am embarrassed that I voted for Rudy Gobert (as Defensive Player of the Year) this season. He is the first player we see every time in the postseason who proves to be a liability on defense.”

Perkins sharply criticized Gobert for the four-time Defensive Player of the Year's performance in the postseason, particularly against Nikola Jokic in the Western Conference semifinals.

“When I look at Rudy, he tarnished the award for Defensive Player of the Year, he did. He's not respected by his peers,” Perkins said. “We saw what happened to him in the Denver series – he couldn't even defend the person at his position. Karl-Anthony Towns did that better.”

“What is he doing right now? When you look at this series (Western Conference Finals), do we realize that Rudy has three blocks in three games? He averages one block a game and he's 7-foot-10. It's unacceptable to name him Defensive Player of the Year four times.”

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Kendrick Perkins says he is embarrassed that he used his Defensive Player of the Year vote for Rudy Gobert, calling it the biggest regret of his media career.

“He tarnished the Defensive Player of the Year award. He did. His colleagues don't respect him. We saw what happened… pic.twitter.com/P4ykITaNZu

— Awful Announcement (@awfulannouncing) May 28, 2024

The Dallas Mavericks have averaged around 111 points per game through the first three games of the Western Conference Finals. Gobert's worst moment came when Luka Doncic sank a three-pointer over him at the end of Game 2. Doncic then proceeded to seriously berate Gobert (video here).

To his credit, Gobert took responsibility after the big shot, but that didn't change Perkins' mind.