USA Today via Reuters
Mar 7, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Team LeBron forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) reacts to being named the MVP of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 7, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Team LeBron forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) reacts to being named the MVP of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
As we near the NBA MVP 2021 announcement, the excitement is palpable. Nikola Jokic & Joel Embiid lead the race as the consistency kings in LeBron James and Kevin Durant have missed enough games to lose their contention. Still, with more names adding up and going out every week, it’s an uncertain mix.
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Now, as always, the entire league, its insiders, and analysts are divided, with everyone having their own top 5. So pushing a break on the MVP conversation, a former NBA champion created his own list on a unique parameter.
Kendrick Perkins left out LeBron James from his list
USA Today via Reuters
LeBron James dunks the ball during the 2021 NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
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Whenever it is about a top ‘xyz’ list, it is almost a given to have LeBron James on it. Also, the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo too makes it on most of those lists.
But former NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins seemed the least impressed by the preceding year’s #1 and #2 MVP candidates when he prepared his list of the most terrifying NBA players in the season.
The 36-YO NBA analyst counted Joel Embiid as his fifth pick and said, “I call him the 270 lbs version of Hakeem Olajuwon.”
Then, he picked his fourth in the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, calling him “The modern-day Larry Bird.”
The Wizards’ Russell Westbrook became his third pick with the reasoning that Brook is “tearing the league up right now…” and that he is “One of the most polarizing figures the game has ever had.”
Then, he named the Bay Area sharp-shooter Steph Curry followed by his #1 in flawless vicious scorer, Kevin Durant. Watch his announcement here –
The top-5 most "terrifying" players to go up against in the NBA right now, according to @KendrickPerkins:
1. Kevin Durant
2. Steph Curry
3. Russell Westbrook
4. Nikola Jokic
5. Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/bYYvfnD6Nv— First Take (@FirstTake) May 5, 2021
Why would he skip the other names?
Well, if he had to make space for LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who would he rather omit?
Nikola Jokic is someone who just recently enjoyed a 24-point/6-boards/2-blocks quarter against the Knicks. Joel Embiid is still the frontrunner for the league MVP award after putting the Sixers on top post his return.
Steph Curry is someone who has single-handedly carried the shorthanded Warriors on his shoulders to make getting into the top 8 a real possibility. KD’s evergreen case is not worth questioning at all.
So this leaves the ranking with one place, Russell Westbrook’s. But just as KP later defended him in a comment, “You obviously hadn’t been watching what Russell Westbrook has been doing lately!”
You obviously hadn’t been watching what Russell Westbrook has been doing lately! Btw not only is he putting up monster triple doubles but the are winners of their 11 outta 13! Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 5, 2021
Russ is the ultimate triple-double king and the way he has helped Wizards over the last months, he deserved it. Honestly, even LeBron James would agree that Russ deserved to be there more than him. Do you agree with this opinion? Help us know in the comments.
