"This is so dumb, bad and just stupid": Fans blast Kendrick Perkins for predicting "collapse" of one of last season's 50-win teams
Basketball fans lashed out at former NBA player-turned-analyst Kendrick Perkins after he predicted that last season's runners-up, the Dallas Mavericks, are a team likely to "collapse" in the upcoming 2024-25 season.
On ESPN's "NBA Today" show, the panelists were asked, "Which team is most at risk of collapsing this upcoming season?" Kendrick Perkins, who was part of the panel, pointed to the last season's 50-win team Dallas Mavericks as the team likely to unravel at some point during the 2024-25 season.
"Is Klay Thompson really gonna turn back the hands of time? Is he gonna be that guy that's gonna consistently knock down shots?" said Perkins.
"And then Luka, we saw last season when he got to the NBA Finals, some could argue that Luka somewhat ran out of gas. He's gonna put up the numbers because he's gonna have the ball in his hands... but I'm looking at the Mavs, and no one is really fearing them right now... I expect Minnesota to come out and be better, and I expect the Lakers and so forth to be better," he added.
Basketball fans didn't appreciate the former NBA champion doubting the Mavericks, especially after the franchise added four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson to its roster in the ongoing offseason.
"This is so dumb, bad and just stupid," a fan commented.
One of the fans accused Perkins of making statements that make no sense.
"Got the easiest job in the world. Just say shit out the ass randomly."
"Blows my mind Kendrick Perkins of all people can stay relevant enough to stay on air," wrote another X user.
"Lol ESPN should seriously be considered for a Best Comedy Emmy. They consistently put out hilarious sketches almost every day. SNL can only do it one night a week. This is great stuff," said a fan.
A couple of fans explained how the Mavericks are primed to be better than they were last season.
"The crazy thing is we don’t need klay to turn back the clock. All he has to do is sit corner and hit 3s. And Luka is not going to get doubled anymore so kyrie will have so much freedom," a fan wrote.
"“Turn back the hands of time” when will everybody realize the klay signing was literally to add a shooter and good defender. Yeah he not the same GS klay with clamps but shooting wise and on this exact roster he will succeed and make this team better," commented another fan.
Dallas Mavericks' performance last season
The duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving helped the Dallas Mavericks reach the NBA Finals last season. The one-time NBA champions were ultimately defeated by the Boston Celtics in five games.
After finishing the regular season with a commendable 50-32 record after playing 82 games, the Mavericks secured the Western Conference champions honor.
Dallas took down the LA Clippers and the OKC Thunder in six games each during the first two rounds of the playoffs, before dominating the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games to advance from the Western Conference Finals.