Kendrick Perkins joins Max Kellerman and Stephen A. Smith on First Take to discuss if LeBron James is playing too much right now for the Los Angeles Lakers.
0:00 Perk says LeBron deserves credit for playing as much as he is.
0:58 Max says that LeBron shouldn’t sit out, but head coach Frank Vogel should consider pulling back his minutes.
1:41 Perk says that LeBron is 80 percent of the Lakers’ offense, and the team is missing JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard.
5:04 Max says the Lakers can’t potentially sacrifice the long-term success by overplaying LeBron right now.
More on ESPN.com: http://www.espn.com
Harun
February 23, 2021 at 8:17 pm
The REAL reason why dudes like Perkins dont want Lebron to sit out is because they’ve been using the fact that Embiid has missed 6 games (25 out of 31) as a technicality to claim that Joel isnt MVP despite Embiid averaging 30 ppg and 11 rebounds a game.
Lebron cant compete with Embiid’s numbers so “misses games” is the excuse. They know that their owb narrative and MVP argument for Lebron would collapse if he sat out since they tried to invalidate Embiid with the same flawed argument.
Jordan Mack
February 24, 2021 at 3:21 am
Exactly, you have to take what these sports analysts say with a grain of salt. Their sole purpose is to push narratives to keep the people entertained. LeBron is the face of the league so he’s going to have the most “fan boys” (Shannon, Nick Wright, Perkins, Colin Cowherd, and Max to an extent) in the media like KD referred to when he said playing with Bron was Toxic.
Truth 2 Power
February 23, 2021 at 8:24 pm
They don’t want Bron to sit out because that’s the only metric they can use to put him over Embid for the MVP. They say you “can’t miss too many games” without ever saying what percentage of the games that is. The fact that they slid with AD out says a lot. They are itching to give Bron this longevity award.
Shalin Lakhia
February 23, 2021 at 9:49 pm
Facts
billdoa
February 23, 2021 at 8:33 pm
That’s why they should have kept BI!
Raymond Crisostomo
February 23, 2021 at 8:47 pm
Lebron won’t get another championship if AD will be out for the season. That Achilles will pop anytime he goes back on the court. Lebron always ask for superstars for him to win championship but not MJ he played and will carry the team to championships.
Ildelbram Mateo
February 23, 2021 at 8:50 pm
been saying it for weeks, Lakers should’ve kept the bigs
Issac Hayward
February 23, 2021 at 8:51 pm
If Labron don’t play it’s blow out !!! He got to play better but got dam !!! He can’t even come out the game!!! He doesn’t get rest during the game like theses other players do come on y’all keep it real
Jordan Mack
February 24, 2021 at 3:14 am
Because they run the lebrun system he’s the main decision maker on the floor and nobody else can initiate their own type of offense.
Troy Hines
February 23, 2021 at 8:54 pm
Perkins is correct , they will lose without Lebron ! And they need to avoid UTAH, LAC and DEN as long as possible in the playoffs! If God forbid Lebron gets hurt , it becomes one excuse after another ! Coaches need to be able to get more from the others they gave money to this offseason that everyone raved about LAL having the best offseason signings !
Issac Hayward
February 23, 2021 at 8:54 pm
If shorder was not hurt they would of won all these games but when it comes to Labron it’s him and AD he never just get one player out it’s always two and y’all want him to do it all don’t come out the game and have energy in the 4 th 🤦♂️
EPk 004
February 23, 2021 at 9:15 pm
Rob Pelinka could be “Hero to Zero” with the current supporting casts for LBJ and AD.
javier book shadows contributor du
February 23, 2021 at 9:34 pm
89th comment
KreyzAim
February 23, 2021 at 10:00 pm
No, lemme tell you Perk. They DO need to limit his minutes. The Lakers cannot be THAT dependent on one player. I do not care if it is my goat or not. A 2 week break like in 2012 should be available to him. Rob gotta get crafty to build up the rest of the team.
Jordan Mack
February 24, 2021 at 3:16 am
They need to develop a system of basketball that doesnt solely run through LeBron.
geniuz g
February 23, 2021 at 10:07 pm
Lebrick might want to get injured, I know it sounds crazy but he so corny so fake that his excuse would be he got injured and not he couldn’t win in a more regular type NBA (no pandemic bubble) environment…
The pandemic for lebricks career was a blessing, it aligned perfect and therefore won a fake chip. The only chip he’s going to win lol he luck pandemic hit last year smh 🤦🏽♂️
He wouldn’t be playing the heat in the finals that’s for sure lol
Sydney Wilson
February 23, 2021 at 10:27 pm
Perk woke up and decided to speak facts today
Ken Bradley
February 23, 2021 at 10:54 pm
Le cry baby can’t win without AD
🤣😂🤣😂
Dalton Hill
February 23, 2021 at 11:20 pm
He can he got 3 rings without ad so stop
Dalton Hill
February 23, 2021 at 11:21 pm
And got to the finals 10 times 1 out of 10 was with ad so he clearly can
Ken Bradley
February 23, 2021 at 11:32 pm
0-3 since AD went downand have to play Utah tomorrow 🤣😂🤣😂
Put a fork in them they’re done
Jimmy Logan
February 24, 2021 at 12:09 am
The entertaining fold untypically pick because stocking theoretically rely past a stimulating cork. jumpy, boorish bench
Matthew 2700
February 24, 2021 at 12:46 am
Lakers boutta drop to the 4 seed 😂😂😂
Hate Being Here
February 24, 2021 at 1:28 am
he said 3 and they gave him 4, lol
Pat S
February 24, 2021 at 2:08 am
Perk always defending LeBron.
Media talking about LeBron’s minutes. Disregarding the losses that they have incurred. Just to justify his MVP campaign.
Pat S
February 24, 2021 at 2:09 am
That’s because they play on a LeBron system. Of course they will lose if his minutes go down or does not play.
Jordan Mack
February 24, 2021 at 3:12 am
exactly, no equal opportunity offense. Bron decides what everybody does on the court rather than letting guys develop their own game.
Adrian Studs
February 24, 2021 at 6:26 am
Each time I think I’m the biggest LbJ supporter, I come across a much better supporter than I am. Actually, I used to think Nick was Bron’s greatest supporter until I came across Jason
Kwadwo Hilton
February 24, 2021 at 10:22 am
Folks on here accusing Perks for speaking facts!! The sweet taste of salty HATERS tears!!
L & G
February 24, 2021 at 4:20 pm
The majority of analysts, commentators & 🏀 ‘fans’ aren’t acknowledging that besides AD the Lakers are also missing another key player in DS, thus the recent bias & double standards against LBJ – no other top player has played all games while being so much criticised for his team losses without two key teammates 🤦
Jai Thakur
February 24, 2021 at 5:17 pm
Not true , they’ll start winning ..let Kuzma & tht play ..let LeBron rest & start playing in the playoffs
Jai Thakur
February 24, 2021 at 5:17 pm
LeBron is tired ..he needa rest more
Edmond Ambe
February 24, 2021 at 9:33 pm
I just realized Kendrick Perkins has pronounced every foreign NBA player’s name wrong besides Luka Doncic