VIDEO: Kendrick Perkins is Just Trying to Make us Angry With This Steph Curry-James Harden Take
By Mark Powell
We love us some Kendrick Perkins. The former Celtics and Thunder center (along with a few other stops along the way) has made a name for himself in his post-NBA career as an analyst with ESPN. Of course, any regular role on the Worldwide Leader comes with it the expectation of informing and, at various points, enraging the audience. Look no further than Perk's' appearance on "First Take" this week, in which he confidently stated that James Harden is a better player than Steph Curry.
On the surface, such a suggestion isn't exactly ludicrous, but Perkins backs up his point with inadequate statistics. Who cares if Harden averages more rebounds that Curry? They're both guards. Cherry-picking statistical advantages to fit his pre-determined point is classic Perkins, and very obviously a ploy by the "First Take" producers, who are surely more diabolical than Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman themselves.
Forget that Curry has three championship rings. Forget all that.
Curry is a two-time MVP and the best shooter of all-time. Harden has great value and is a future Hall of Famer, but each and every time their two teams face off in a critical playoff scenario, Curry comes up large while Harden shrinks in the moment. Harden is a go-to scorer and an elite offensive playmaker who understands his place in a league which emphasizes star power now more than ever. Curry, meanwhile, is a singular historical talent, and a player who will inspire generations of shooters for years to come.
But yes, rebounds.