Monday\u2019s Game 5 recap of the NBA Finals took an interesting pivot on \u201cSportsCenter.\u201d<\/p>\n
When discussing the Thunder\u2019s 120-109 home win over the Pacers<\/a>, ESPN\u2019s Kendrick Perkins playfully chided fellow analyst Richard Jefferson over an exchange he was having with Perkins\u2019 wife, Vanity.<\/p>\n \u201cWere you just waving at my wife?\u201d Perkins asked Jefferson, who was seated beside \u201cSportsCenter\u201d host Scott Van Pelt.<\/p>\n Kendrick Perkins: “Were you just waving at my wife?” <\/p>\n Richard Jefferson: “She waved at me first\u2026”<\/p>\n Scott Van Pelt: “Stop blowing kisses out here\u2026” \ud83c\udfc0\ud83d\udcfa\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f#NBAFinals<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/aclafo0QB3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 17, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Richard Jefferson waved to Kendrick Perkins\u2019 wife while covering Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June 2025. Awful Announcing via ESPN\/X<\/p>\n Jefferson, 44, waved to Vanity, who was off camera, and said, \u201cShe waved at me first.\u201d <\/p>\n As Jefferson repeated, \u201cShe waved at me first,\u201d Perkins, 40, started laughing and lightly swiped the former NBA forward\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n Even as moderator Van Pelt tried to keep the program moving, he quipped to his fellow panelists, \u201cStop blowing kisses out here.\u201d<\/p>\n Scott Van Pelt was part of the cheeky moment that unfolded on \u201cSportsCenter.\u201d Awful Announcing via ESPN\/X<\/p>\n Kendrick Perkins softly swiped Richard Jefferson\u2019s cheek in the moment. Awful Announcing via ESPN\/X<\/p>\n Perkins, who played for the Thunder from 2011-15, has been married to Vanity for 15 years. <\/p>\n The couple will celebrate<\/a> their 16th wedding anniversary in July.<\/p>\n He penned a heartfelt Mother\u2019s Day tribute to Vanity in May, calling her the \u201cheart and soul\u201d of their family.<\/p>\n Kendrick Perkins with his wife, Vanity. Kendrick Perkins\/Instagram<\/p>\n The couple has been married for 15 years. Kendrick Perkins\/Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for not just being the best Wife that a man can ask for but being the Best Mother to our 4 beautiful Children. Haven\u2019t a glorious and outstanding Day today and enjoy it beautiful. I love you sooo much,\u201d Perkins posted<\/a> on Instagram.<\/p>\n The cheeky scene between Perkins and Jefferson unfolded at the Paycom Center, where Oklahoma City took a 3-2 series lead and is now one win away from an NBA title.<\/p>\n Kendrick Perkins during ESPN\u2019s NBA Finals coverage in June 2025. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n Richard Jefferson is part of ESPN\u2019s top NBA booth. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points while Jalen Williams added a career playoff-high of 40 points.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a perfect game at all and there\u2019s a lot of room for growth,\u201d Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. \u201cBut our improvement from Game 4 to Game 5 was critical.\u201d<\/p>\n The Thunder defeated the Pacers in Game 4, 111-104, to even the series at two apiece.<\/p>\n Game 6 is set for Thursday in Indianapolis. If necessary, Game 7 shifts back to Oklahoma City on Sunday.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t