After Losing $134B Company Deal to Caitlin Clark, Ex-NBA Champ Sends Stern Warning to Anthony Edwards

Kendrick Perkins has hit the headlines in blinding fashion recently, but not in the ways he’d have liked. He won’t keep quiet when a hot topic enters the fray – especially when it comes to the face of the NBA. And when Anthony Edwards’ name entered the conversation, he wasn’t on KP’s list. Why, you ask? It was due to the rest of the faces having “a wife and kids” – something Edwards currently…well, you know the story. While this does seem out of pocket, he does say this from personal experience.

Perkins has already apologised for that comment. Maybe he realised the other role models didn’t really have the scot-free personal life he claims they did. “I apologized privately so I’m apologizing publicly to the young [king] for my comments on First Take yesterday.” But all of his comments hold some water. He knows exactly what that kinda smoke can do to you, especially after an off-court controversy denied him of a possible endorsement deal just this season.

“I lost an endorsement deal this season. This season was safe for. I was supposed to do, I had signed the contract. I was supposed to do a State Farm commercial with Caitlin Clark, right? A reporter from ESPN writes a story about my Nilly company. State Farm tells me, and I know it’s true, but I’m just telling you how like certain situations hurt. What’s going on? State Farm tells me, nah, we good. We good. I didn’t hear back from them. Now they didn’t want to be a part of any smoke, any controversy,” said KP on Road Trippin’.

June 8, 2018; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins (21) during the second quarter in game four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-85 to complete a four-game sweep. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

What KP is talking about is this: He co-owns a NIL company called Nilly, that “offers athletes upfront payments in return for the use of, or sale of, an athlete’s name, image and likeness (NIL) for up to seven years. As part of the arrangement, Nilly and its backers foot advances to its athletes and in return receive a cut of future NIL earnings from the player.” But an investigative journalist on ESPN unearthed some things that, well, basically ruined the State Farm deal for him. Turns out the company used predatory tactics akin to offering high-interest loans. And that denied KP a deal with the $134 billion company.

So maybe the terminology was wrong. But he’s still right when it comes to off-court lifestyles paying dividends when it comes to becoming role models for aspiring ballers. And after recent inputs by KP, seems like Anthony Edwards still lacks a couple more qualities to make it next to the big boys.

Anthony Edwards needs to be a better post player, says Kendrick Perkins

There’s no doubt of the Ant-man’s wing play. And that emulates the plays of Kobe Bryant, Kawhi Leonard, and even LeBron James. But the difference is their ability to play post. When they enter the paint, no double team can stop them from scoring. Ant’s ability to play low and rough has been a concern. And for him to be the next face, the post play has to be better.

“So he’s got the jump shot, he’s got the skill. If he goes to the post, where they can double team him at on the court, completely changes. Now, if you bring two, now you throw it out, swing, swing, open shot all day… you have more one-on-one eyesight visibility if you are in the post. That is factual. There’s no opinion about that. The only way for Ant, Ant led the league in three point makes. And he’s one of the most dominant scorers. He’s one of the most athletic players,” said KP on the pod.

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES

So, was Kendrick Perkins justified in his comments? Yes, but to an extent. Off-court problems do play a part, and he was a victim of it. But for Anthony Edwards, it’s his post play that can get him into the line of the greats.

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