Did he actually say that?
In the world of sports media in 2025, hot takes are unfortunately the name of the game.
However, there is a difference between a hot take and a take that is downright moronic, and in this case, a bit salacious.
Kendrick Perkins went on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday morning and delivered the latter, when discussing Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards and his place as face of the league.
“There is a bigger picture, right,” Perkins said.
“You gotta check the boxes when you’re the face of the league.
“Yes, we know you gotta have your signature shoe. You’re gonna be in commercials. You’re gonna have the highlights. You gotta have the game.
“But you know what else you gotta have? You gotta be a role model. And things outside the lines matter.”
Perkins was not so subtly referring to Edwards’ personal life, and his decisions when it came to his childcare.
It was an odd and laughable take.
Perkins then continued to double-down on how being the face of the league means you must be a ‘family man.’
“Now, if you go down the list of all the faces of the league in the history of the game,” Perkins said.
“You look at Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, LeBron, Steph. What did they all have in common? While they were playing in the league they all were family men.
“They all were married. With kids. And if you think that don’t play a role as far as the role model. This is facts.
“This is not something that I’m making up. Now what happened to them after they retired, that’s their business.
“But while they are playing or was playing, they were family men. Married with kids.”
Perkins may want to sit down when he finds out some of the names he listed were in fact, not family men.
Not all of the time.
It was a strange thing to say about Edwards, the very young 23-year-old, who has been on a meteoric rise over the last two seasons.
He is in the Western Conference finals in back-to-back years, and won a gold medal with Team USA over the summer, sandwiched in between there.
There’s no denying that Edwards may in fact have next up as face of the league.
And there is no such requirement of having a wife and kids in order to stake claim to that title, despite what Perkins may believe.
