Veteran point guard Russell Westbrook is on his seventh NBA team in the past nine seasons after joining the Sacramento Kings. The former MVP once looked like he’d be an Oklahoma City Thunder legend forever, but the team’s sudden rebuild led to his departure. Westbrook has since struggled to find a long-term home, bouncing from team to team in a backup role.
ESPN broadcaster Kendrick Perkins, who played alongside Westbrook in the early 2010s, shared that their longtime friendship has become strained due to his critical comments. On the Out the Mud podcast, Perkins revealed that Westbrook’s wife, Nina, texted him in anger over some of his takes.
“I get a text from Russ’ wife,” Perkins said. “So as I get off, I look, I’m like, damn. His wife, not him. I mean (it’s) like six paragraphs. She texted me so much, that s**t wasn’t even in the text form no more. That s**t had broken up into like pages.”
Nina reportedly felt that Perkins spoke out of turn by questioning Westbrook’s NBA legacy. Perkins said his intent was to point out that a legendary player’s decline could hurt his reputation and value around the league. Nina’s text defended her husband’s legacy and called out a former friend she believed had disrespected him.
What Did Perkins Say About Westbrook?
ESPN features Perkins on numerous television programs, many of which draw large audiences. Perkins has become an unexpected success story as a studio analyst known for his outspoken commentary. His comments about Westbrook centered on the former MVP’s financial decline and decision-making.
“I didn’t even say nothing that crazy,” Perkins said. “I’m just like, hey man, Russ got to be careful. Nah, I didn’t lie because you got to think—Russ went from making 60-plus million to all of a sudden we started seeing Russ on that three, four million a year.”
Westbrook has experienced a significant decline across the league, and it’s difficult to envision him making another All-Star team. The starting point guard role has felt out of reach, as he’s primarily served as a backup for most teams in recent years.
Perkins’ Wife Replied To Westbrook’s Wife
The story escalated further when Perkins revealed that his own wife responded to the text messages. Mrs. Perkins allegedly had a heated exchange with Mrs. Westbrook, which only intensified the situation. As a result, Kendrick Perkins and Russell Westbrook are unlikely to exchange messages or share any public interactions of friendship moving forward.
Westbrook remains one of the most confident and proud athletes in the league, known for his unwavering self-belief. Many see that mindset as a double-edged sword as it helped make him a superstar but also contributed to a polarizing play style that has drawn criticism and impacted his reputation.
Perkins, meanwhile, has a professional obligation to give his honest take on what he sees on the court, and his comments carried some validity. However, Nina felt betrayed that a former friend would question her husband’s legacy on national television. The situation has only grown more tense since Perkins made the story public.
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