Kendrick Perkins was ripped by NBA fans after the former player-turned-analyst wanted to take credit for Jayson Tatum’s 53-point burst on Friday night. The young Boston Celtic went off on the Minnesota Timberwolves, saving his team with his incredible performance that led them to the 145-136 win on overtime.
After the game was over and Tatum earned a lot of praise, Perkins took to Twitter to claim he had actually called Tatum and ‘asked him’ to give more of himself. The player apparently didn’t take offense to that and demonstrated he can do more against the struggling Timberwolves.
Called Jayson Tatum out about giving more and he didn’t get all sensitive and he heard me and responded like a true professional supposed to and had the best game of his young career…finishing with 53 spicy and 10 boards with W! Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) April 10, 2021
This obviously didn’t sit well among NBA fans, who quickly fired back at Perkins for taking credit for Tatum’s big game. They sent him big messages claiming that Jayson couldn’t care less about whatever Perk told him.
https://twitter.com/drt1983_drt/status/1380734374715531264
Please call out Brad Stevens next because this team is underperforming due to poor coaching mostly. Yes, there are roster issues but there is no way it should be this difficult to beat the Timberwolves at home. Offense and defense are problems.When is his genius going to kick in?
— EAB (@TheOnlyEAB) April 10, 2021
Lol stop taking credit for this young man going crazy tonight. I doubt he seen or care about anything anybody has to say about him good or bad. He saids that all the time.
— NBA (@kyrie_lyric) April 10, 2021
Kendrick I only have a few family members as followers which I know is very important2 guys like yourself&it's true I don't know much but I know this.U are in no position2 call an NBA player out4 not giving enough.KD told u publicly&rightly so that u didn't give enough in OKC.
— The Hurricane (@TheQueenBeeBBQ) April 10, 2021
You lazily called out body language of our best player while he was down 25 to a far superior team….you get zero credit for this performance
— Manny Ramirez (@JPhelpsBOOM) April 10, 2021
Perk I bet u, no NBA players care about what you say 🤣🤣
— . (@Kd7_Szn) April 10, 2021
I’m sure Jayson Tatum was inspired and motivated to match your career 5PPG & 5RPG numbers.
— Ricky Chu (@RikDaddy) April 10, 2021
He didn't hear shit Lmao, he's been a baller
— WestGoat (@34isgoat) April 10, 2021
Ah yes! It was all you Perk. He woke up this morning and said ‘Man I gotta get to work because of what Perk tweeted’.
Give me a break bro! pic.twitter.com/PXMwO1cR1B
— Eric Jr (@ericjr2018) April 10, 2021
@KendrickPerkins are you saying nba players get sensitive (kd) and can't handle constructive criticism (kyrie)…next thing u know these guys will talk more about mvp trophies (harden) than championship rings …as long as kyrie gets his rest n no bed bugs show up nets are good
— Walkin bucket (@kcwalt18) April 10, 2021
Thank you for your performance Perk, he couldn’t have done it without you
— Drew Ulbin (@CoachUlbin) April 10, 2021
That man ain’t pay you no attention 😂
— Allen (@Magic_chillin) April 10, 2021
I promise you Perk he didn’t give a fuck about anything you said. Carry on..
— Save Us CW1 (@DuckzSzn) April 10, 2021
Thats right Kendrick. You are the person who drove JT to get 50, he just wanted to double your career high buddy
— Benzo 🇵🇸 (@FasterPP3) April 10, 2021
Yo Perk! Can you call me out next, please? I have a men’s league pickup game tonight and I want to drop 50+
— moose johnston ⭐️ (@DarrylJohnston) April 10, 2021
Tatum played really well, to be fair. He was on a mission on Friday went off on the T-Wolves that tried to beat the Celtics but the young player was too much to bear for them. It’s unclear if Perkins had something to do with that but NBA Twitter wasn’t having any of his claims.
With his performance, Tatum became the youngest Celtic to score 50+ points and also the first player with a 50/10 since Larry Bird in 1989.
Jayson Tatum tonight:
53 PTS
10 REB
16-25 FG
6-10 3P
15-16 FT
He is the first Celtic with a 50/10 game since Larry Bird in 1989. pic.twitter.com/ikewxKg5Qj
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 10, 2021
The Celtics struggled at some point of the season and now have won four of their last five games. They need to keep winning if they want to make the playoffs and do so in a good shape. With the Nets, Sixers, and Bucks getting all the attention in the East, Tatum is trying to lead his team to the postseason without making a lot of noise.
