Kendrick Perkins is never shy about bold takes, and on the latest edition of First Take, he delivered another one: he predicted that Anthony Edwards will win an NBA title before Luka Doncic.
Perkins praised Edwards’ mentality, physical dominance, and two-way game, and after watching the Minnesota Timberwolves take a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers, he believes Edwards is on a championship trajectory that Luka may never match.
“Watching the fourth quarter, the second half, the fourth quarter in particular, I saw what Nico Harrison was talking about when it comes down to the reason why he traded Luka. He traded Luka because he felt that the Dallas Mavericks were not going to be able to win a championship with Luka. We all know this.”
“I didn’t feel that way watching Anthony Edwards. I’m saying to myself, Anthony Edwards is going to win a championship before Luka Doncic. Anthony Edwards is built different. Anthony Edwards is a better all-around basketball player than Luka Doncic. Now we could talk, I could come on here like I did early in the segment.”
“I could blame JJ Redick, rightfully so, for the minutes that he played LeBron James at 40 years old. But like I said, Luka is young. He should have been able to play those 24 minutes straight. Anthony Edwards did, and Anthony Edwards thrived in those minutes.”
“And so when I look at what he’s done and what he’s doing, not only did he send KD home last year, he sent Jokic home last year. He’s now about to send LeBron and Luka home this season because they’re going to win this series.”
“And think about this for a second. In the next round, he could possibly be facing Steph Curry. And guess what? What if he sent them home, which he absolutely has a chance to do, send Steph Curry packing. This man is just built different.”
“And it’s not just about the 40-plus points and the assists and the rebounds. He defends his ass off. He wanted smoke with LeBron. He wanted smoke with Luka. That’s what I like. He wanted smoke with Austin Reaves.”
“I’m looking at Anthony Edwards and I’m saying to myself, he is a top-five player in the game today. Today, if I’m starting the franchise, yes, we know we have Jokic. We have Giannis. We have those guys. But dammit, you better not overlook Anthony Edwards.”
It’s definitely a bold statement, especially considering just a year ago, it was Luka Doncic who sent Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves packing in a five-game series. In fact, Luka dominated that series, and many pointed to the gap between the two stars as a reminder of Doncic’s generational offensive talent.
However, Perkins’ larger point is not without merit. Anthony Edwards has taken a massive leap this season. His two-way dominance, fearlessness in clutch moments, and willingness to take on the toughest defensive assignments make him a complete package.
His 43-point explosion in Game 4 against the Lakers was a masterpiece, showcasing his athleticism, shot-making, and maturity. He outplayed LeBron James and Luka Doncic down the stretch and backed it up by guarding both of them throughout the night.
Still, Perkins’ comments were a bit dismissive of Luka’s own greatness. It’s not like Doncic disappeared; he poured in 38 points and continued to be the engine of the Lakers’ offense, even while clearly not at full strength after a recent viral illness.
Yes, Anthony Edwards is a better defender than Luka by a wide margin, but Luka’s offensive mastery, his passing vision, shot creation, and ability to control the pace of a game remain nearly unmatched. Luka is a once-in-a-generation offensive player.
It’s also important to remember the context: this Lakers roster around Luka is far from perfect. They lack a quality center, and their bench depth is a problem. Those flaws are not on Doncic alone.
The Lakers’ front office will almost certainly reshape the roster around Luka this offseason, whether they survive this series or not. Meanwhile, Edwards plays for a Timberwolves team that is deep, athletic, and loaded with defensive monsters like Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, making his job a bit more manageable.
Edwards is 23 years old. Luka is 26. Both are entering their primes. Both have already tasted playoff success. Edwards reached his first Western Conference Finals, while Luka has already been to the NBA Finals once.
Kendrick Perkins may end up being right: Anthony Edwards could very well win a championship before Luka Doncic. But let’s not pretend the book is closed on Luka.
Greatness has a way of resurfacing, and as long as Doncic is healthy and motivated, he will be a factor in every title race. And if you are going to bet against Luka Doncic or especially LeBron James, you better be very, very careful. The series isn’t over yet.
