A sellout crowd of 18,203 rose to its feet as Kendrick Perkins appeared on the jumbotron inside Paycom Center.
The former Thunder big man and a starter during OKC’s 2011-12 NBA Finals run basked in the applause like he did during his playing days. Perkins was known for his physical stature, defensive tenacity and veteran leadership while anchoring the paint for a young, explosive Thunder squad.
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Now an outspoken NBA analyst with ESPN, Perkins hasn’t stopped championing the Thunder.
Especially throughout this year’s run to the NBA Finals.
Perkins has never been one to mince words. Perhaps his boldest proclamation came recently, when Perkins declared that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would become the greatest player in Thunder history if he delivers its first NBA championship.
Here’s all Perkins had to say in an interview with The Oklahoman.
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Dec 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins looks on during the fourth quarter between the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. in a semifinal of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena.
Q: How cool is it for you to be back in Oklahoma City to see your former team face off in the Western Conference finals?
A: “It’s been great, man. From the time I got off the airplane, walking through the terminal — just the hospitality in general is always special here. It’s crazy because you tell everybody about how great it is here, but they don’t fully get it until they actually get here and feel the energy and buzz in the city. You’ve got to realize that a lot of arenas and a lot of fan bases don’t treat you with the great hospitality. They don’t always make you feel welcome anytime you step into this city. Whenever I step foot in this state, especially myself, I feel a certain type of way.”
Q: What would you say you enjoy most about being in the building?
A: “Just saying, seeing all the familiar faces. From Coach (Marvin) Mack to you know Sam Presti, to one of my former teammates Eric Maynor, who’s now assistant coach, and even Mike Wilks. All the people from the security staff to the valet drivers — it’s like being back at home. It just takes you back to those days and brings back those good memories, and that was like 13 years ago.”
Q: Which of your four seasons did you enjoy playing here most? I’m sure 2012?
A: “Yeah, I’d have to say that 2012 year probably, but to be honest, every year was really fun. There’s nothing like the energy of this arena, right? I didn’t have enough time to tell the whole story on ‘NBA Countdown’ the other day, but when you get here as a player, they take you on the tour and tell you about the Oklahoma City bombing and how that brought the city together. You can see that like when you look around the NBA in the playoffs and you see that this is the only arena that shows real, true togetherness every single game. And when I say that, it’s because everybody got their T-shirt on. So that just goes to show you how everyone in the gym is on one accord.”
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Q: Seeing what this team has been able to accomplish these past two seasons, what’s your biggest takeaway from what the organization has been able to piece together?
A: “Well, I’ll say this. This is one of the best defensive teams in NBA history. The depth of this team is scary. I will say this, too, when it comes down to SGA, he’s seven games away from being the greatest Thunder player ever. Scoring title, MVP, winning the NBA championship with the Finals MVP, he already joined Michael Jordan in the company of having three seasons averaging 30 while shooting over 50% from the field. I’m just amazed of how young this team is and the agenda-free basketball that they play on a night-to-night basis. You don’t normally get that from young squads.”
Q: Before this series started, what was your prediction for how’d it go?
A: “I had OKC in six games.”
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Q: Non-basketball question: What are some of your favorite spots to eat whenever you’re in the city?
A: “That tough. I’ve got a few I used to hit up, but I’d say my favorite is The Ranch Steakhouse, which is an underrated steakhouse you might need to try. I used to go to Mickey Mantle’s all the time, too. That’s a great spot. Those would probably be my top two.”
Q: Finally, since joining the media after your playing days, what excites you most about being a part of the NBA Playoffs and Finals coverage?
A: “Just from being a player like and being able to watch it again as a fan of the game because you live for these moments to shine in the postseason, right? This is how ‘no names’ become household names, right? I love when you’re able to see guys outside of the superstars shine. Like you see a Lu Dort have his moment, or you see Alex Caruso finally get the love that he supposed to get. These are the moments where the camera is on you, and now the world can see and have a better appreciation for guys outside of the superstars.”
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Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Kendrick Perkins says SGA will be best Thunder in franchise history