Kendrick Perkins needs his vote again.
The ex-NBA star and ESPN analyst stated on Thursday’s version of “First Take” that his vote for Rudy Gobert because the league’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months has brought about him embarrassment because the Timberwolves star has struggled within the postseason.
“I’ve the largest remorse in my media profession, and … I’m retiring … from voting for particular person common season awards as a result of I’ve executed a disservice in utilizing my voting rights,” Perkins stated. “Me, voting this season, for Rudy Gobert is a humiliation for me for Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He’s the primary participant we see each single time within the postseason that turns into a defensive legal responsibility.”
Gobert received the 2024 NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months award by a landslide, with the Minnesota heart getting 72 first-place votes, nearly quadrupling Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama’s 19 votes, the second-highest whole.
Gobert’s play has not withstood the playoff check, nonetheless.
Regardless of having a optimistic plus/minus in two of the three Western Convention Finals video games in opposition to the Mavericks, Gobert was additionally placed on skates and viciously taunted by Mavericks star Luka Doncic for a game-winning 3-pointer in Recreation 2.
His offensive numbers have dropped for the reason that postseason started — his 12.2 factors, 10.2 whole rebounds, 7.2 defensive rebounds and 1.1 blocks per recreation over 13 postseason contests getting into Tuesday’s Recreation 4 in opposition to the Mavericks all symbolize sizable steps backward over his common season stats.
“Don’t come give me these analytics,” Perkins continued on Gobert. “Don’t come giving me these plus/minus stats, as a result of that’s probably the most overrated stat within the NBA. Once I have a look at Rudy, he has tarnished the Defensive Participant of the 12 months Award. He has. He’s not revered by his friends; we noticed what occurred to him within the Denver sequence; he couldn’t guard the individual at his place. [Minnesota teammate] Karl-Anthony Cities did a greater job at that.
“What’s he [Gobert] doing proper now? While you have a look at this sequence proper now, do you notice that Rudy has three blocks in three video games? He’s averaging one block per recreation at 7’3. Unacceptable to say he’s a four-time defensive participant of the 12 months.”
Whether or not Perkins is grandstanding or truly would take away himself from voting stays to be seen, however he wouldn’t be the primary media member to now not partake in awards season.
ESPN author Zach Lowe additionally withdrew himself from voting, citing that it “felt a bit icky” deciding gamers’ contracts.
