Draymond Responds to Kendrick Perkins’ Take on His Lack of Shooting
Before the Warriors' Game 6 on Friday night, Kendrick Perkins had this to say about Draymond’s play, “He’s afraid to shoot the basketball and those assists he gets to Curry, Poole, and Thompson, anyone could get.” After the thirty-nine-point loss it was easy to question the Warriors’ play or lack thereof as Draymond made multiple bad passes and the team seemed out of rhythm. But they shut the haters up in Game 6 and looked like the Warriors that we were accustomed to seeing.
When Draymond addressed the media after Friday’s game, he told them that what Kendrick Perkins was saying couldn’t be further from the truth. Adding, “Scared and me in the same sentence is brutal.”
He also had similar remarks on his Instagram story saying, “Don’t ever mention my name and afraid.” Along with, “Also we stand on our word... Your ratings will be up in the a.m., You're welcome!”
Draymond is right, if Perkins goes on any show following this exchange, they will most likely ask for his response to the comments made about him.
Perkins would fire back on Twitter in the morning basically saying that Draymond did his thing in Game 6 but the other games he wasn’t looking like his old self. While that is fair criticism, to say that anyone could play Draymond’s role on the Warriors is clearly just not true. He is a 6’7” point forward that can guard 1-5 and is one of the best passers on the team. And unlike Perkins, he was an integral part of championship runs where they couldn’t have won without him.
This all goes back to Draymond’s point about why he doesn’t shoot as much when he said, “Why would I shoot the ball when I have two of the best shooters on my team.” Plus, now with the addition of Poole, Wiggins, and others they add more true options that can score the ball. And fans saw in Game 6 that the Warriors players know how to play their role well, just look at Kevon Looney who grabbed 21 rebounds. Draymond is doing the same thing so to speak, playing his role well.
As for Green’s comment calling Perkins’ “A big ogre,” that was clearly unnecessary. But when you are a player like Draymond whose name is constantly bashed in the media you might see why he would be upset. Perkins appeared to take it better than most would have, saying that Draymond wasn't cute either. The whole back and forth was a petty one where both guys said what they wanted to say. In the end Draymond got the last laugh though as he and the Warriors are headed to the Western Conference Finals again for the sixth time in the last eight years.
(Photo credit: Aaron Ontiveroz / Getty Images)