HELPED THE TEAM GET THERE IN 2012. IT’S EXCITING TO BE BACK HERE WATCHING, WATCHING A YOUNG, GREAT TEAM LIKE THIS, 2025 TEAM THAT WE’RE WITNESSING AND WATCHING THE YOUNG SUPERSTAR ON THE RISE IN SGA KENDRICK PERKINS, A WELL-KNOWN NAME IN THE NBA MEDIA SEEN AS A PERSONALITY FOR MANY OF ESPN’S NBA SHOWS. WELL, HE’S IN TOWN COVERING THE OKC THUNDER’S FIRST FINALS APPEARANCE SINCE THE TEAM MADE IT IN 2012, WITH PERKINS AS THE MAIN MAN IN THE PAINT. IT’S CRAZY BECAUSE YOU WALK IN THE ARENA AND YOU STILL SEE THE OLD FAMILIAR FACES. THEY GIVE YOU THAT SAME FAMILY VIBE AND ENERGY. HE’S IN SEVERAL ESPN SHOWS AND IS SHOWING OFF THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE CITY TO HIS COWORKERS, BUT THE GROWTH OF THE CITY IS EYE GRABBING. SINCE HIS DAYS AS A PLAYER. IT’S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I MIGHT NEED TO BUY SOME LAND. I’VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THINGS THAT RUSS HAS BEEN DOING IN THE COMMUNITY. GOT TO APPLAUD HIM, RIGHT? HE’S STILL HE STILL CONSIDERS THIS HIS HOME. IN MY OPINION, THE WAY THAT HE’S INVESTED IN HIS COMMUNITY. AND SO IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING. IT’S BEEN A GOOD REUNION FOR HIM AS HE’S SEEN THUNDER ASSISTANT COACH ERIC MAYNOR AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT NICK COLLISON, BOTH OF WHICH WERE ON THAT 2012 TEAM. AND PERK SAYS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE MEMORIES COMES FROM THAT SEASON. WHAT IT ACTUALLY WAS, IT INVOLVED ME SETTING THE SCREEN. IT WAS A GAME WINNER BY KD AND I SET THE SCREEN FOR HIM AND HE CAME OFF THE LITTLE CURL ACTION AND GOT AN OPEN TREY BALL TO GAME IT. HERE IS DURANT FOR THE WIN. PERK SAYS HE’S EXCITED TO SEE THE THUNDER TAKE ON THE INDIANA PACERS IN THIS FINAL
Former Thunder star covering NBA Finals as OKC goes for championship
Kendrick Perkins, a name that many know well as a former Thunder player, is now an NBA analyst on ESPN and covering his former team as they play through the NBA Finals.
Updated: 10:23 PM CDT Jun 6, 2025
Kendrick Perkins, a name that many know well as a former Thunder player, is now an NBA analyst on ESPN and covering his former team as they play through the NBA Finals.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelPerkins sat down with KOCO 5 to talk about being back in Oklahoma City for its first NBA Finals since he helped the team in 2012.”It’s exciting to be back here watching a young, great team like this 2025 team that we’re witnessing and watching the young superstar on the rise in SGA,” Perkins said.WATCH: Oklahoma City Thunder fans celebrate playoffs with new SGA mural downtownPerkins is a well-known name in the NBA media scene as a personality for many of ESPN’s NBA shows.He’s in Oklahoma City covering the Thunder’s first NBA Finals appearance since the team made it in 2012, with Perkins as the main man in the paint.”It’s crazy because you walk in the arena, and you still see the old familiar faces. They give you that same family vibe and energy,” Perkins said.He’s in several ESPN shows and is showing off the atmosphere of the city to his coworkers, but the growth of the city is eye-grabbing since his days as a player.”It’s going to continue to grow. Matter of fact, I might need to buy some land,” Perkins said. “I’ve been seeing a lot of things that Russ has been doing in the community. I got to applaud him, right? He’s still considered this his home. In my opinion, the way that he’s invested in his community — it’s a beautiful thing.”It’s been a good reunion for him as he’s seen Thunder assistant coach Eric Maynor and special assistant Nick Collison, both of whom were on that 2012 team.WATCH: Relive the sights, sounds and key moments of Game 1 of the NBA FinalsPerkins said one of his favorite memories comes from that season.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”You know what, it actually was — it involved me setting a screen. It was a game winner by KD,” Perkins said. “I set the screen for him, and he came off the little curl action then got an open trey ball to game it.”Perkins said he’s excited to see the Thunder take on the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals matchup.More Thunder HeadlinesNBA Finals Guide: Tickets, schedule and everything you need to know as the Thunder play for a titleTracking Thunder ticket prices for first two games of NBA FinalsSee when you can watch the Thunder play in the NBA FinalsOklahoma City Thunder return to NBA Finals after 13 yearsThe Thunder have won the Western Conference title. Here’s where you can get NBA Finals gearSGA wins Western Conference Finals MVP
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Kendrick Perkins, a name that many know well as a former Thunder player, is now an NBA analyst on ESPN and covering his former team as they play through the NBA Finals.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Perkins sat down with KOCO 5 to talk about being back in Oklahoma City for its first NBA Finals since he helped the team in 2012.
“It’s exciting to be back here watching a young, great team like this 2025 team that we’re witnessing and watching the young superstar on the rise in SGA,” Perkins said.
WATCH: Oklahoma City Thunder fans celebrate playoffs with new SGA mural downtown
Perkins is a well-known name in the NBA media scene as a personality for many of ESPN’s NBA shows.
He’s in Oklahoma City covering the Thunder’s first NBA Finals appearance since the team made it in 2012, with Perkins as the main man in the paint.
“It’s crazy because you walk in the arena, and you still see the old familiar faces. They give you that same family vibe and energy,” Perkins said.
He’s in several ESPN shows and is showing off the atmosphere of the city to his coworkers, but the growth of the city is eye-grabbing since his days as a player.
“It’s going to continue to grow. Matter of fact, I might need to buy some land,” Perkins said. “I’ve been seeing a lot of things that Russ has been doing in the community. I got to applaud him, right? He’s still considered this his home. In my opinion, the way that he’s invested in his community — it’s a beautiful thing.”
It’s been a good reunion for him as he’s seen Thunder assistant coach Eric Maynor and special assistant Nick Collison, both of whom were on that 2012 team.
WATCH: Relive the sights, sounds and key moments of Game 1 of the NBA Finals
Perkins said one of his favorite memories comes from that season.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“You know what, it actually was — it involved me setting a screen. It was a game winner by KD,” Perkins said. “I set the screen for him, and he came off the little curl action then got an open trey ball to game it.”
Perkins said he’s excited to see the Thunder take on the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals matchup.
More Thunder Headlines