Kendrick Perkins apologizes to Jayson Tatum after dominant game vs. Cavs
āWe talk about everybody else but we donāt talk about this man who constantly night in and night out is flirting with 30-point triple-doubles.Ā "
Kendrick Perkins’ affinity for doling out critical takes against the Celtics has been well-documented.
His blunt commentary against Joe Mazzulla, Boston’s roster, and in particular star forward Jayson Tatum has apparently made the ex-Celtics center and current ESPN pundit persona non grata at TD Garden.
But Perkins changed his tune on Wednesday when it came to Tatum, who he has publicly lambasted over the years regarding his standing as one of the NBA’s top stars.
After Tatum submitted a dominant performance in Boston’s 120-117 win over the previously unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, Perkins was ready to give the forward his flowers.
“Jayson Tatum, I apologize because we should mention your name more often when it comes to the three letters of MVP,” Perkins said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” Wednesday. “We talk about everybody else but we don’t talk about this man who constantly night in and night out is flirting with 30-point triple-doubles.
“We take away from him for the simple fact of the talent that’s around him. But the way that he’s been taking over games, we know that he’s a walking bucket. We know that he improved his 3-point shooting. … But on top of that, it’s the rebounding for me. It’s the double-figure rebounds that he’s getting a game.”
Tatum delivered for Boston in the team’s first true test of the 2024-25 season Tuesday — giving the Celtics a much-needed victory in NBA Cup competition. The 26-year-old forward scored a team-high 33 points while knocking down six 3-pointers, grabbing 12 rebounds, and recording seven assists.
While he should face plenty of competition for MVP honors this season — especially from fellow superstars in the Western Conference like Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Tatum has already made a compelling MVP argument out of the gate in 2024-25.
Along with leading the reigning NBA champions to a 12-3 record out of the gate, Tatum ranks third in the NBA in scoring (29.9 points per game) while averaging 8.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per contest.
Tatum tabbed himself as his pick for 2024-25 NBA MVP during an appearance on “The Tonight Show” in September — a move that Perkins initially tabbed as “selfish” … albeit in a positive way.
“I’m not being negative or anything,” Perkins said on “NBA Today” before giving the definition of selfish. “Here’s the thing: I get that basketball is a team sport, right? And I get championships have helped define a lot of guys’ legacy. Hell, I’m still called an NBA champion to this day.
“But if one individual wants to hit and accomplish individual accolades, I’m all for it.”
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