Kendrick Perkins Explains Why the Early 2010s Thunder Fell Short 

Not a Harden fan at all, but that response to Perk’s text is extremely respectable. Not what I was expecting but that was rather mature for a 23 year old 💯

Perk bringing the stars together is why you need a culture & vets in locker room.

Crazy to think how a team drafted 3 of the top 75 players of all time in a 4 year span and they couldn’t win a title because of personality conflicts.

These podcasts are like closure. I cannot express how amazing it is to be able to hear retrospective insights like this. Answers to the questions you had for years.

Wow, Perk dropping therapy level analysis, extremely valuable information on interpersonal relationships and how they affect success.

Some may think Perk is lying but I remember hearing in OKC media how much of a leader Perk was when he arrived.

That entire team was young. Players, coaches, front office, even the actual team itself.

I have a lot of respect for Perk. He’s going through that espn biased hate but he’s one of the realest ones on there and he’s trying to learn a new craft and balling with it. We should celebrate him

It makes so much sense that KD and Kyrie are friends lol… this interview gives so much context

Perk sounds like he was a great teammate man

This is great insight for OKC fans like myself, thanks perk. We all knew KD and Russ were kinda faking it for the media but not to that extent. Like to the point the families weren’t even talking at one point? That’s crazy cause you really wouldn’t have been able to tell from the outside looking in

As a former Army vet!!! As the saying goes Leadership is everything!! All that talent on team! They should have been generational!!Like Perk said they’re going to look back with regret!

One of the ultimate what IF teams

As a OKC fan, major props to BIG Perk trying to establish team continuity..I never knew he had leadership qualities

I absolutely love authentic basketball conversations like this, hearing a different perspective of what goes down in the locker rooms rather than hearing sas or nick wright go on about absolute BS. We need more jj reddick and draymond in media ❗️❗️❗️

I had a conversation / argument with a guy for about an hour telling him how OKC trading Jeff Green for Kendrick Perkins actually helped make the OKC Thunder title contenders. He argued back and forth mainly about Perkins' stats and how he was basically a bum. I advised him guys like Perkins are chemistry and glue guys who know their role, and helped them get over the hump. He refused to believe that. This only lets me know I was right, and it's things that don't show up in the stat sheet that can build chemistry more than on court skills. Remember that KG cried when Ainge traded Perkins, so that should tell you all you need to know about him.

I was also at that Mavs-OKC Game 4 in 2012. I had great seats behind the Thunder bench. I remember watching James Harden continually cross up Shawn Marion (an excellent defender)...and I told my girlfriend....."Man......James Harden is badass" I'm with Perk. I was not surprised at the player Harden became in Houston.

This was interesting. I remember that team. They had so much potential. KP explained talent isn’t enough. Chemistry is critical.

The series against the Heat should’ve only been the first big loss in steps going towards a championship. And that 3-1 loss to the Warriors still has to hurt. If they end up champions in 2016, the view on Russ and Durant completely change there, and maybe they don’t leave too.

I was surprised to hear that when they went to Olympics, Lebron and some of the stars tried to break them up because they saw what these guys can do 😮

As an fan of those teams this is heartbreaking

Egos between superstars are crazy….

I'm glad Perk is setting the record straight on some of the Thunder misconceptions. Like, 5 million was the difference between James re-signing or being traded. James wanted his own team, that was the real reason he was traded. As a Thunder fan I think the media played a huge role in the relationship between KD and Russ being what it was. There was always the chatter about whose team it was Russ or KD, who was Batman, who was Robin, who was the alpha, so on and so forth. That went on the whole time they were together. So from the outside there was always that talk going on. That's why I think the organization was more guarded with them at the time in regards to press. That's why when KD left he talked about being able to be himself and the guardrails that OKC kinda had on them in regards to interaction with the media. Not realizing that they were trying to keep that stuff as far away as they could. I know that they were still hearing it, and it had to impact their relationship. As a fan there was an incident that I remember in regards to that talk and it struck me the wrong way. The Thunder were playing I believe it was the playoffs, and some of this chatter had been going on the day before the game. KD was going off this game and near the end was fouled and made the shot. I remember him under the basket near the fans and he said "This is my m'fn team". In that moment and with the context of everything going on I felt weird about him saying that. It was never talked about, but I saw it, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

The 2012 thunder team is so op on 2k lmao

something i just realized is that KD is the one who is always being left out. As Perk said KD never hung around with Harden or Russ. I heard he was also left out of the original Warriors core, said that he never got along with them. I guess he just doesn't work with others.

In OKC when Harden would do his size up dribble + step back over any defender I knew the dude was an alpha and needed his own team to flourish

That version of Kendrick Perkins was the best in my opinion, he was soo fit and could run the fast break with the young thunder big 3

As a Clippers fan, this is what we are missing right now. Say all you want about Pat Bev, Lou Will, and Trezz. Those three were really close and spent a lot of time together, which allowed us to win more games than we should’ve.

Wow I love how big perk try to slowly manipulate the situation by getting the team together with those type of methods big UPS to him for even trying.

This team is forever gonna get talked about

Been waiting for this! BIG PERK in the house laying it down!!!!

These interview videos are so cool to see the ins and outs of the NBA!

Y'know I feel like guys like Perk who isn't the main guy gives much more details than the main guys themselves like KD or Russ, because guys like Perk dont have much to lose anymore so they let it all out being more honest, gotta get more guys like Perk!

I think the Harden trade was bigger than just losing Harden as a player, he was a huge part of their culture together and it was the first domino to fall in all of their subsequent chemistry failures leading to KD leaving the team. Also, Harden would have developed into the next Ginobili more than likely.

Damn Perk built their relationship. Glue guy at its finest.

I love Perk man. Dude keeps it real 100%. Even said details I had no idea about till now.

It really did hurt when we lost harden, could’ve been a big dynasty. Also if we drafted Draymond Green instead of Perry Jones 3rd

Man the amount of NBA lore this show brings out.... amazing.

Thanks Perk's for finally giving us closure on that amazing team

This is amazing! Best interview hands down! 😂😂😂😂

Great interview. Perk would make a great coach. It takes more than mere individual talent to win a championship. Perk understands that very well.

Hope JJ can get a Warriors player. Preferably an off the bench player like Poole, GP2, Belly or Otto

Keep making these videos. The insight is top notch.

Thanks for the insight and everything you have given to the Thunder, Mr. Perkins.

when perk talked about other players trying to break them up man....everybody was scared of them. makes me think about when people were celebrating when kobe and shaq broke apart too. idk how much the media played into it but they couldve been special had they all stuck together, the bond might have been better too. sounds like kd has always been alone though like that lonely kid in school

I know hindsight is 20/20, but I’ll never understand somebody who didn’t see Harden becoming a star. His production off the bench didn’t make sense, and he was the de facto PG over Russ. I was absolutely sick the exact moment I learned of the trade, and am still lowkey down on Presti/cheap ownership to this day

Gota love how Perk keeps it real man.

This podcast is really fascinating stuff. I'm glad I found it

Damn I thought KD and Westbrook were cool with each other in OKC until KD left for the Warriors and James Harden was the odd man out the whole time. Now I realize it all makes sense because Westbrook went to Houston to team up with Harden because they were cool with each other until that experiment didn't work anymore. The odd man out was KD, who seems to isolate himself from a lot of people.

I love how THEY manage to post this to the Minute honestly Incredible Sending LUCK

Feel like KD and Kyrie are those 2 unpopular kids/outcasts who became friends lol

Kendrick Perkins get so much backlash from the media but he’s really good at what he does.. he keeps it 100

Honestly I think if the Thunder had a different coach and fostered more of a team all for one atmosphere they would have had a better outcome. I watched to many Thunder games where they just won on pure greatness with what looked like very little actual game plan being adhered to. When Durant came to the warriors that motion offense looked like it was poetry in motion. I have always been a big Westbrook and Durant fan it's still crazy to me that Durant, Harden, Westbrook team didn't win a couple titles....

Kendrick Perkins is a Real Dude!

Jj podcast is blowing up because Kp and some of the guest he bring in keep it 💯

Big Perk very professional 👏🏻 and great speech and story I agree with him 1000%

Yooo jj you should try to get iman Shumpert on this podcast I think it would be great but love all the previous podcasts and this one too

Insight to why KD never felt moved to tell Russ he was leaving OKC & I’m shocked to why Russ felt so hurt/disrespected by it

And this is why coaches like Steve Kerr, Greg Popavich, Phil Jackson etc etc are needed. All of these players are talented but dealing with different personalities and egos is a skill. It's more than just X's and O's.

I like these insights from perk

So Lebron..Carmelo Wade were planting seeds in Harden's brain in order to break up this very good n promising okc nucleus. Im not surprised... But OKC were so stupid to waste a damn good trio like they gotta.. Coaching was the issue Period!!!

I'm still pissed at the C's for ever letting Perk go to OKC. You couldn't replace his fire and will to win and the intimidation factor he brought to the middle. Such a team player, stuck on a team in Oklahoma that was more bout the egos than the rings.

I could listen to Perk talk all day about team dynamics in the locker room, especially between all-stars in Boston, OKC and Cleveland. People weren't kidding when he was always hailed as an amazing leader behind the scenes.

Love Kendrick.

Very interesting insights by Big Perk. James should be starting since 2012, maybe 2011 and then Brooks should stagger the three stars' minutes, he was waaay to good to be coming off the bench. He needed to be a star starter in order to enjoy all the... perks that come with it. Team culture, that's what Kerr, Steph, Klay, Draymond, and Iggy built in GS. I hope Iggy stays with the team in whatever role if he retires.

Champion teams are not about skill only , chemistry is important.

Talent is not enough without team chemistry. These three guys have found that out time and time again with all the different organizations they've played with since they all joined the league.

This is crazy good content

After all this time the media made it seem like KD and Westbrook were best friends back in OKC but Kendrick Perkins gave us the real story on why everyone split up it makes sense bc if KD, Westbrook & Harden stayed together they could've won a ring if they interacted with each other. S/0 to JJ Redick for giving us these exclusive interviews that the media won't tell us about

I don’t see how people don’t like perk he entertaining and keep it real he gone say he wrong when he wrong

I like JJ, he doesn't concentrate in media hating players, but on true facts of NBA and playing the sport we love.

wow, wow, and wow. so much revelations from perk. golden

3 future MVPs on the same team and they didnt win 1 title.....one of the biggest let downs ever and i believe Perk's story here. They're all very quirky guys who do their own thing.

It’s because Presti is an awful team builder, but a great drafter. He surrounded KD and Russ with absolute offensive liabilities. It was basically 2 on 5 basketball with no shooters on the court. Not to mention Scott Brooks ughhhh.

Goes to show: Talent alone is not enough, you also have to be good with people. You need to be a good leader whose teammates will gladly listen and stand behind.

7:40 That’s what leaders do. Perk was so overlooked. And humble enough to care about you.

Thunder could have been like the Spurs .. three stars drafted like TD, Tony and Manu. They didnt stay together and KD only won two titles with the Warriors.

4 years wasted from 2011 to 2014 because the Thunder had this guy as their starting center. Anybody else with hands that can hold onto the basketball and they win at least 1 title.

Former players will hate on him for being so transparent but as fans this is what we need

Perk's the realest. wish he and Kob played together

Clicked faster than kd with a burner account

They should have tried kept James if they kept James they would have won a title 🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

Perk, JJ, and Richard are the best ESPN has to offer.

Perk always kerps it 💯

He said “including me”, like he is a tougher matchup hahaha

Scott Brooks is the main culprit of this debacle How come Sam presti didnt fire him ..thats baffling..

he speak the realest sht you can hate em but you can’t say he don’t speak facts he speak straight from the heart

Wow, finally something concrete behind the curtain.

Forcing to make your teammates to talk is difficult especially if it’s not natural they were a special team but at least Kendrick put effort to try to bring together the team as a whole that’s a real one 👏

I wasn't going to watch his interview, but after watching these 8 minutes I changed my mind.

I really hope he has a good offseason and fully recovers from the injuries he’s had the past couple years. I just think the league will be more interesting if he can really contribute to the duo of him and Embiid.

This squad and the Shaq-Penny Magic are the greatest what-if teams in my lifetime

I agree with Kendrick. This team was so incredibly good to break up the way they did. KD & Russ should have won at least 2 titles together but the egos ruined it. It’s a shame!

This was a good take

4:40 facts bro deadass

As great as Russ is it seems like he would be hard to play with from an on court chemistry standpoint. He’s just to ball dominate and doesn’t have a real PG IQ. KDs always been better than Russ but the OKC thunder organization and Russ never acted like they knew that. That had to be frustrating for KD. You could see the frustration in Bron and ADs face this whole season. Russ takes horrible shots at the worst times. KDs not as good of an all around player as Bron but he has Lebron talent and as much as some people may not want to admit it he’s close to being as good as Bron talent wise but Bron does have him beat.

they lost because instead of being forward looking and building around their great small players they added perkins and built big like old school teams. ibaka, green, kd, harden & a 3&D wing instead of russ is the ideal NBA team. switchable bigs. amazing shooting. instead they went with russ & perk. they could have been the warriors. sad. had they just kept harden and traded russ OKC would have been a dynasty. ibaka was an amazing versatile 3&d big. harden & kd would have given you elite shooters who can go 1v1 and drive and kick. but they had no idea about what was to come in the 3 ball era. tell me analytics don’t matter.

Very interesting and makes a lot of sense

I started watching basketball because of this team It was the grizzlie vs okc 3 ot game 😮😮😮 An Automatically fell in love with the game and especially Westbrook and Kevin Durant

Explains more why KD left in 2016 too. If you just don't have chemistry (on and off court) with the second best player and you don't even talk to each other, and the franchise isn't going to trade Russ away, you're more motivated to leave for what looks like a better environment.