Kendrick Perkins facts for kids
Perkins with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 10, 1984 Nederland, Texas, U.S. |
| High school | Clifton J. Ozen (Beaumont, Texas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 270 lb (122 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27th overall |
| Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies | |
| Pro career | 2003–2018 |
| Career history | |
| 2003–2011 | Boston Celtics |
| 2011–2015 | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2015 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2015–2016 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2017–2018 | Canton Charge |
| 2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 4,214 (5.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 4,532 (5.8 rpg) |
| Blocks | 903 (1.2 bpg) |
Kendrick Le'Dale Perkins (born November 10, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. After his playing career, he became a sports analyst for ESPN. He joined the NBA straight out of high school. He played for the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Orleans Pelicans. He won an NBA Championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics.
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Early Life and Basketball Start
Kendrick Perkins was born in Nederland, Texas. He was raised by his grandparents on a farm. When Kendrick was five, his mother passed away. His father played professional basketball in New Zealand but did not visit Kendrick.
Kendrick's grandfather loved sports, which helped Kendrick become very competitive. Besides basketball, he also played football and baseball when he was younger. He stopped playing baseball in ninth grade and football in tenth grade to focus on basketball.
Perkins first met future NBA superstar LeBron James in seventh grade. They played against each other in a basketball tournament. Later, they became friends and teammates on a youth basketball team called the Oakland Soldiers. During his teenage years, Perkins was ranked as one of the top young basketball players in the country. He had a big growth spurt between eighth and ninth grade, growing from 6 feet 5 inches to 6 feet 10 inches.
High School Success
Kendrick Perkins went to Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas. He graduated in 2003. During his time there, he helped his high school team win four district championships in a row. They also won one state championship.
In his senior year, he averaged 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 7.8 blocked shots per game. His team had an amazing 33–1 record that year. The only loss was in the state championship game. After his great senior season, Perkins was chosen to play in the McDonald's All-American Game. This game features the best high school basketball players in the country.
Even though he had planned to go to college at Memphis, Perkins decided to go straight to the NBA after high school.
Professional Basketball Career
Boston Celtics (2003–2011)
Kendrick Perkins, who stands 6 feet 10 inches tall, was picked 27th in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. However, he was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics. He joined the Celtics along with Marcus Banks.
During the 2004–05 NBA season, Perkins started getting more playing time. He became known as a tough player for the Celtics. He often played a role as the team's "enforcer," meaning he was strong and physical on the court.
In the 2005 NBA playoffs, something unusual happened. In a tied game, a Celtics player was ejected but still had free throws to shoot. The opposing coach chose Perkins, who hadn't played in the game, to shoot them. Perkins missed both, and the game went into overtime, which the Celtics eventually won.
Perkins worked hard and improved a lot. By the 2005–06 NBA season, he earned more playing time from coach Doc Rivers. He started to have some of his best games, often getting double-digit points and rebounds. He became the main starting center for the Celtics. In 2008, he was the starting center when the Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship.
In Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Perkins hurt his knee and couldn't play the rest of the game. He also missed Game 7, where the Celtics lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. He had torn ligaments in his right knee. He returned to play in January 2011 and received a standing ovation from the fans.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2011–2015)
On February 24, 2011, Perkins was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He signed a new contract with the Thunder soon after. He made his debut with the Thunder on March 14, 2011, helping them win against the Washington Wizards.
Perkins quickly became an important player for the Thunder. He helped them finish the season with 55 wins. They made it to the 2011 NBA playoffs and reached the Western Conference Finals. However, they were eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks.
2011–12 Season
The 2011–12 NBA season was shorter than usual because of a player lockout. During this time, Perkins lost over 30 pounds. He continued to be a key player for the Thunder. He often had strong games with many rebounds and blocks.
The Thunder had a great season, finishing with 47 wins. They entered the 2012 NBA Playoffs as the second-best team in the Western Conference. They swept the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Then, they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. This led Perkins and the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals. It was Perkins's third time reaching the NBA Finals.
In the Finals, they played against the Miami Heat, led by their "Big 3" stars. The Thunder lost to the Heat in five games.
Later Years with Thunder
Perkins continued to play for the Thunder in the 2012–13 NBA season and 2013–14 NBA season. He was known for his strong defense and rebounding. In the 2013 NBA playoffs, the Thunder won their first series but lost in the next round. In the 2014 NBA playoffs, they reached the Western Conference Finals again but were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs.
During the 2014–15 NBA season, Perkins started playing fewer minutes. On February 19, 2015, he was traded to the Utah Jazz, but they waived him (released him from his contract) two days later.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2015)
On February 24, 2015, Perkins signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He joined a team that included his old friend, LeBron James. The Cavaliers made it all the way to the 2015 NBA Finals. However, they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
New Orleans Pelicans (2015–2016)
Perkins signed with the New Orleans Pelicans on July 28, 2015. He started in his first game for the Pelicans, scoring 10 points. Unfortunately, he suffered a right pectoral injury in November that kept him out for three months. He returned to the team in December.
Canton Charge (2017–2018)
In September 2017, Perkins signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers again for a short time. He was waived before the season started. He then joined the Canton Charge, which is a team in the NBA G League (a league where players develop their skills). In February 2018, he decided to retire from the G League.
Return to Cleveland (2018)
On April 11, 2018, Perkins returned to the Cavaliers for the rest of the season. He played one game for them, scoring 3 points. The Cavaliers reached the 2018 NBA Finals again, but they lost to the Golden State Warriors. Perkins did not play in the playoffs that year. He was waived by the Cavaliers in July 2018.
Broadcasting Career
After he retired from playing basketball, Kendrick Perkins became a sports commentator and analyst for ESPN. He also worked for NBC Sports Boston. He appears on popular ESPN shows like NBA Today, Get Up, First Take, and SportsCenter.
NBA Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Boston | 10 | 0 | 3.5 | .533 | .000 | .667 | 1.4 | .3 | .0 | .2 | 2.2 |
| 2004–05 | Boston | 60 | 3 | 9.1 | .471 | .000 | .638 | 2.9 | .4 | .2 | .6 | 2.5 |
| 2005–06 | Boston | 68 | 40 | 19.6 | .515 | .000 | .615 | 5.9 | 1.0 | .3 | 1.5 | 5.2 |
| 2006–07 | Boston | 72 | 53 | 21.9 | .491 | .000 | .600 | 5.2 | 1.3 | .3 | 1.3 | 4.5 |
| 2007–08† | Boston | 78 | 78 | 24.5 | .615 | .000 | .623 | 6.1 | 1.1 | .4 | 1.5 | 6.9 |
| 2008–09 | Boston | 76 | 76 | 29.6 | .577 | .000 | .600 | 8.1 | 1.3 | .3 | 2.0 | 8.5 |
| 2009–10 | Boston | 78 | 78 | 27.6 | .602 | .000 | .582 | 7.6 | 1.0 | .3 | 1.7 | 10.1 |
| 2010–11 | Boston | 12 | 7 | 26.1 | .542 | .000 | .575 | 8.1 | .8 | .2 | .8 | 7.3 |
| 2010–11 | Oklahoma City | 17 | 17 | 25.2 | .493 | .000 | .531 | 7.9 | .9 | .4 | .9 | 5.1 |
| 2011–12 | Oklahoma City | 65 | 65 | 26.8 | .489 | .000 | .652 | 6.6 | 1.2 | .4 | 1.1 | 5.0 |
| 2012–13 | Oklahoma City | 78 | 78 | 25.1 | .457 | .000 | .611 | 6.0 | 1.4 | .6 | 1.1 | 4.2 |
| 2013–14 | Oklahoma City | 62 | 62 | 19.5 | .451 | .000 | .552 | 4.9 | 1.1 | .4 | .5 | 3.4 |
| 2014–15 | Oklahoma City | 51 | 3 | 19.2 | .441 | .000 | .507 | 5.5 | .8 | .3 | .7 | 4.0 |
| 2014–15 | Cleveland | 17 | 0 | 9.8 | .488 | .000 | .500 | 2.4 | .5 | .1 | .2 | 2.6 |
| 2015–16 | New Orleans | 37 | 5 | 14.6 | .533 | .000 | .440 | 3.5 | .8 | .3 | .3 | 2.5 |
| 2017–18 | Cleveland | 1 | 0 | 15.0 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Career | 782 | 565 | 21.9 | .530 | .000 | .594 | 5.8 | 1.0 | .3 | 1.2 | 5.4 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Boston | 6 | 0 | 4.7 | .800 | .000 | .333 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .5 | 1.5 |
| 2008† | Boston | 25 | 25 | 25.2 | .585 | .000 | .678 | 6.1 | .5 | .6 | 1.3 | 6.6 |
| 2009 | Boston | 14 | 14 | 36.6 | .575 | .000 | .667 | 11.0 | 1.4 | .4 | 2.6 | 11.9 |
| 2010 | Boston | 23 | 23 | 25.0 | .510 | .000 | .600 | 6.2 | 1.0 | .4 | 1.4 | 5.7 |
| 2011 | Oklahoma City | 17 | 17 | 28.2 | .453 | .000 | .576 | 6.1 | .8 | .2 | .8 | 4.5 |
| 2012 | Oklahoma City | 20 | 20 | 25.9 | .416 | .000 | .800 | 6.2 | .7 | .4 | 1.3 | 4.7 |
| 2013 | Oklahoma City | 11 | 11 | 19.1 | .270 | .000 | 1.000 | 3.7 | .6 | .7 | .5 | 2.2 |
| 2014 | Oklahoma City | 19 | 19 | 20.2 | .533 | .000 | .800 | 5.4 | .7 | .2 | .3 | 3.2 |
| 2015 | Cleveland | 8 | 0 | 4.1 | .250 | .000 | .600 | 1.1 | .0 | .0 | .4 | 1.3 |
| Career | 143 | 129 | 23.6 | .502 | .000 | .662 | 5.9 | .7 | .4 | 1.1 | 5.1 | |
Personal Life
Kendrick Perkins is a practicing Catholic. He was an altar boy when he was young. It was sometimes hard to find a robe that fit him because of his height!
Perkins is married to Vanity Alpough. They have four children: a son born in 2007, another son born in 2011, and twins (a son and a daughter) born in 2015.
Perkins' cousin, Ethan Rusbatch, is also a basketball player. He plays in the New Zealand NBL.
See also
In Spanish: Kendrick Perkins para niños
