Kendrick Perkins delivered a blistering critique of former New Orleans Pelicans general manager Dell Demps, calling him “a snake” and blaming him for cutting his NBA career short.
On the latest episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast, Perkins accused Demps of misleading him about his future with the Pelicans and preventing him from joining other championship-contending teams late in his career.
The former center, who won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, detailed several broken promises and missed opportunities he attributes to Demps.
“I’m not blaming Dell Demps for the direction of my entire NBA career,” Perkins said, via HoopsHype. “But he played a huge f***ing part. He took one or two years off my career. I could’ve been on a bench clapping 1,500 times a season. Instead, he shortened my career—by being a snake and lying.”
Perkins shared that during free agency, he turned down a veteran minimum offer from the Houston Rockets — at the request of James Harden — because he had already committed to returning to New Orleans. However, after passing up that opportunity, the Pelicans signed another big man, Nene, and left Perkins without a role.
“I contact him in August: ‘Hey D, what we doing?’” Perkins recalled. “He calls me and says, ‘Yeah, after rethinking some things, we think it’s best to let the young guys roll and not bring you back.’”
According to Perkins, the pattern of broken commitments continued during the season when Demps reportedly refused trade offers from both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder — teams that ultimately made deep playoff runs that year. Perkins said Demps insisted the Pelicans wanted him to retire in New Orleans, only to cut ties with him after the season.
“That year, I was out of the league,” Perkins said. “No job. You possibly cost me a championship. I turned down actual offers. I despise him. I wish the worst for him in a basketball sense.”
Perkins, who developed close relationships with teammates like Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday during his time in New Orleans, emphasized that his frustration is not with the organization as a whole, but with Demps personally.
