The Education of Kendrick Perkins by Kendrick Perkins

Someone who lent strength and support to his fellow players. Kendrick was known as the consummate teammate. His teammates, however, had a different story. The Cavaliers made it to both the 20 NBA Finals but lost to the Golden State Warriors in each series.ĭuring Perkins's career, he embraced his role as the enforcer, a physically intimidating player who would send a message with a hard foul and was not afraid to get into an opponent's face. In his fourteenth season, Perkins took a leadership position, crediting Lebron James with allowing him to do so. In his first season with the Thunder, they met the Lebron James and the Miami Heat in the NBA finals and were defeated in 5 games.įrom February 2015-2018, Perkins played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New Orleans Pelicans, and then again for the Cavaliers. Now an experienced veteran player, Perkins was an immediate leader, showing the younger players what it took to win in the playoffs. In 2011, Kendrick was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and signed a contract for 35 million dollars, playing with their all-star tandem of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Hardin. His 2010-2011 season was spent in rehab from the ACL injury. Many experts point to that moment as the difference in the Celtics loss to the Lakers. Just under seven minutes into Game 6, Perkins fell to the floor after battling for a rebound, tearing his ACL.

In the 2010 NBA finals, Boston carried a 3-2 lead back to Los Angeles for Games 6 and 7 against the Lakers. He started at center in 2008, and the Celtics won the NBA championship that year, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. At 300 pounds, he spent his first season with the Celtics getting into shape.

6 high school player in the class of 2003 By .Īt 6'10', Perkins was deemed physically imposing and skilled enough to play professionally and was drafted with the 27th pick in the first round and traded to the Boston Celtics. He led Ozen to four consecutive district championships plus one state title.Ĭoming out of high school, Kendrick was ranked as No. Ozen high school in Beaumont, Texas, in 2003, where he averaged 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 7.8 blocks as a Senior. During his father's professional basketball career in New Zealand, Kendrick was raised by his grandparents in Beaumont, Texas, where he attended Catholic Church and was an altar boy. Kendrick's mother, Ercell Minix, was tragically shot and killed while working when he was five years old. His father, Kenneth Perkins, played for Lamar University's basketball team between 1981-85 and is a member of the university's Cardinal Hall of fame. Kendrick Perkins was born in Nederland, Texas.

The Education of Kendrick Perkins by Kendrick Perkins