Kendrick Perkins responded to Draymond Green after the Golden State Warriors forward questioned the ESPN analyst’s basketball intelligence and called him a “big dummy.”
“The first thing is that, Draymond, you’re not above criticism. And I wasn’t talking about what you did in the past. I’m talking about this season,” Perkins said on the Road Trippin’ Show.
Perkins had questioned Green’s impact during the opening weeks of the 2026-27 season, arguing that discussions about the veteran focused more on his altercations than his basketball.
Green responded on The Draymond Green Show, saying: “The difference between myself and big dummies like you is, I can think!”
Perkins rejected Green’s suggestion that he lacked the experience to evaluate defensive anchors, pointing to his own career as a starting center.
“You want to talk about defensive anchor. You want to talk about the transition of your game and where you at now and what you don’t tolerate as the starting center. Well, you weren’t the only person that was a starting center in your life. And actually, I was one of them,” Perkins said.
He also listed several prominent big men he faced during his career, including Dwight Howard, Rasheed Wallace, Tim Duncan, Yao Ming and Zach Randolph.
“I was a starting center during a time where the game was actually played through boxes and elbows. I was a starting center where it was no help whatsoever,” Perkins said. “So you’re not the only person that knows how to be an anchor.”
Perkins acknowledged Green’s defensive ability but argued that being a defensive anchor involved more than physicality and confrontations.
“There’s more things to being an anchor than just hard fouls and being able to get ejected. You actually got to defend,” he said. “He’s a good defender. He’s a great defender. He’s been a great defender this year. Nine games.”
The ESPN analyst also criticized Green’s approach to using his media platform, particularly his personal comments about other basketball figures.
“If you’re going to have a platform, bro, have a platform because you’re so educated, you have a high IQ. Why won’t you have a platform where you actually educate the audience on real basketball?” Perkins said.
He also addressed Green’s public discussion of therapy and mental health, saying he appreciated the Warriors forward raising awareness but expected him to apply those lessons.
“I actually applaud you for this, but guess what? You actually got to apply it as well,” Perkins said. “If you’re going to be a leader and stand on the front line and advocate for this, then you got to show signs of improvement.”
Perkins recalled being sent to anger management by Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti during his playing career.
“I had to spend a month and a half in the offseason because Sam Presti sent me to anger management. I had a therapist, and I grew from it,” he said. “When are you going to grow from it?”
He concluded by referencing Kobe Bryant’s praise of his post defense, saying he would trust the late Lakers star’s assessment.
“Kobe Bryant is on video, says that, ‘Hey man, Kendrick Perkins is the best post defender in the league.’ So, am I going to listen to Draymond or am I going to listen to Kobe?” Perkins said.
Despite the criticism, Perkins ended his response by leaving the door open to giving Green credit.
“It’s all love, bro. But this ain’t going to be my last time criticizing you, but I’m going to be the first to give you flowers.”
