Personal story of NBA adversity
Former NBA player and current analyst Kendrick Perkins Road trippin’ The podcast said he was threatened with death in 2021 after criticizing Giannis Antetokounmpo during the NBA finals. Perkins called Giannis “Robin” and called Herris Middleton’s “Batman” while praising Middleton’s contribution to the Milwaukee Bucks.
“The most important thing is, please stop the cattle death threat. I was under death threat. I was under barb… not in my DMS. Their mother ****ers received my phone number. They sent me a text message,” Perkins said.
Take action, don’t play with victims
Instead of complaining publicly, Perkins worked with his employer ESPN to resolve the situation. He said: “I told ESPN. ESPN, go dig. They locked the mother. They found the guy and locked him up. It’s a real story.”
He explained that the threat expanded to his family. “This guy threatened me after the threat.’I killed your kid. Once you get there, I know where you stay. I’m going to kill you.” That’s real life,” Perkins said.
He stressed the importance of using official channels such as NBA security or organizational resources rather than publicly dramatic events such as these. “Michael Porter Jr., if you’re watching this, they’ll have this thing called NBA security. If you feel threatened, you’re a multi-billion dollar company…you’re going to be okay, young guy,” Perkins suggests.
Veteran’s opinion
Perkins criticizes players who adopt a “victim” mentality in the face of online threats or criticism. Using his experience, he advises young players to either take action through the right channels or ignore threats.
He also compared the mental health struggles of modern participants with challenges faced by the Bill Russell era, including hurtful and life-threatening conditions. “From injuries to death threats and life-threatening diseases like diabetes, I’ve seen adversity in all its forms,” Perkins said.
Lessons from a long-term NBA career
Perkins’ message is clear: adversity takes many forms, from stress on the field to personal threats, and there are professional support systems to deal with them. Quietly handling issues responsibly, rather than turning them into public glasses, can prevent unnecessary drama and danger.
For Kendrick Perkins, his approach to threats is a combination of pragmatism, action and relying on the NBA’s security infrastructure – a method he believes that young players will benefit from their followers.
