Kendrick Perkins Clarifies Controversial Comments About Joel Embiid Vs. Nikola Jokic: “Just Because You Root For Someone Of Your Own Kind Doesn’t Make You Racist.”

Kendrick Perkins wasn't happy about being called a racist after his vehement support for Joel Embiid over Nikola Jokic in the MVP race.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

• Kendrick Perkins has finally addressed his controversial comments during the 2023 MVP race 

• Perkins claimed Nikola Jokic had an edge over Joel Embiid for the award due to the color of his skin, prompting a controversy

• Perkins recently defended what he had said 

Kendrick Perkins got into hot water earlier this year while saying that NBA MVP voters are racist during a tight race between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid.  

Perkins has addressed those comments and categorically said that rooting for someone with your own skin color isn’t the same as being racist.

“Me and JJ got into a heated debate. I love JJ, but the only problem I had was that he said I ‘accuse’ people of being racist. I don’t accuse anybody of that. Correct me if I’m wrong, racist means that you hate someone of another color. When Obama ran for President, I know Black people that never voted in their life, me personally, I never voted. You know how I rushed to vote for Obama because I wanted to see a Black President? Just because you may be rooting for someone of your own kind doesn’t make you racist.” 

Perkins had given iffy examples of modern white MVP’s not being top-10 in scoring as his argument for racism, something that brought out JJ Redick and made the conversation even more contentious

Perkins openly campaigned for Embiid to win the regular season MVP, something that did end up happening. Instead, Jokic settled on winning a championship, something that voters in the league do not control.


Regular Season MVP Losing Its Value?

The last player to win a regular season MVP and then follow it up with a Finals MVP in the same season was LeBron James in 2012 and 2013. MVP winners since then can’t seem to get the job done in the same year as their coronation as MVP.

Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Joel Embiid are active MVPs from the last 10 seasons to not win a championship yet. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic both won two consecutive regular-season MVP trophies but won the title and Finals MVP the year they failed to win MVP.  

Embiid averaged a sensational 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game last season to earn the award. But when those numbers dropped to 23.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in the playoffs, he became the only MVP in league history to never make a Conference Finals appearance

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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