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. He now works as a sports analyst for ESPN. Kendrick joined the NBA right after high school. He played for famous teams like the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Orleans Pelicans. He even won an NBA Championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics.
Contents
- Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
- High School Basketball Success
- Professional Basketball Career
- Broadcasting Career
- Personal Life
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
Kendrick Perkins was born in Nederland, Texas. His grandparents raised him on a farm. They were very supportive and helped him love sports. Besides basketball, Kendrick 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.
Meeting Future NBA Stars
Kendrick met LeBron James when he was in seventh grade. They played against each other in a basketball camp. Later, they became friends and teammates on a team called the Oakland Soldiers. When Kendrick was in eighth grade, he was ranked as the third best player in the country for his age. LeBron James was ranked first, and Chris Paul was ranked second. Kendrick had a big growth spurt between eighth and ninth grade, growing from 6 feet 5 inches to 6 feet 10 inches! He made his first dunk in a game when he was in seventh grade.
High School Basketball Success
Kendrick graduated from Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas, in 2003. He led his high school team to win four district championships in a row. They also won one state championship during his time there. In his senior year, he averaged amazing stats: 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 7.8 blocked shots per game. His team had a fantastic record of 33 wins and only 1 loss that year.
After his senior season, Kendrick was chosen to play in the McDonald's All-American Game. This game features the best high school basketball players in the country. He was considered one of the top players in the nation. Even though he had planned to go to college at Memphis, he decided to go straight to the NBA after high school.
Professional Basketball Career
Boston Celtics: Becoming a Champion (2003–2011)
Kendrick, a 6-foot-10 center, was picked 27th in the 2003 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. But he was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics. He quickly became known as a tough player for the Celtics.
In the 2004–05 NBA season, Kendrick got more playing time. He was known as the team's "enforcer," meaning he played a physical and strong game. He had a memorable moment in the 2005 playoffs. In a tied game, he was chosen to shoot important free throws, even though he hadn't played yet. He missed them, but the Celtics still won in overtime!
Kendrick worked hard and improved a lot. By the 2005–06 season, he was getting even more playing time. He started to score and grab rebounds in double figures often. After a teammate was traded, Kendrick became the main starting center for the Celtics. He was the starting center when the Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship in 2008.
In Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Kendrick 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: New Team, New Challenges (2011–2015)
In February 2011, Kendrick was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He signed a new contract with them soon after. He had another knee injury, but he debuted with the Thunder in March 2011. He quickly showed his skills, grabbing a season-high 17 rebounds in one game.
The Thunder finished the 2010–11 season with 55 wins. They made it to the Western Conference Finals but were defeated by the Dallas Mavericks. Kendrick played an important role, especially with his rebounding.
2011–12 Season: Reaching the NBA Finals Again
The 2011–12 NBA season was shorter due to a player lockout. During this time, Kendrick lost over 30 pounds, which helped his game. He continued to be a strong presence for the Thunder. He had a season-high 6 blocks in one game and tied his career high with 3 steals in another.
The Thunder finished as the second best team in the Western Conference. They swept the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. They then beat the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs to reach the 2012 NBA Finals. This was Kendrick's third time playing in the NBA Finals! However, the Thunder lost to the Miami Heat in five games.
2012–13 and 2013–14 Seasons
Kendrick continued to play a key role for the Thunder in the 2012–13 NBA season. He had a season-high 17 points in one game and grabbed 15 rebounds in another. The Thunder made it to the Conference Semifinals in the 2013 NBA playoffs but lost to the Memphis Grizzlies.
In the 2013–14 NBA season, Kendrick helped the Thunder win many games. He had a season-high 12 points against his old team, the Boston Celtics. He also grabbed 12 rebounds in two different games. The Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals in the 2014 NBA playoffs but were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs.
2014–15 Season and Trades
In the 2014–15 NBA season, Kendrick started playing fewer minutes as a younger player took his starting spot. He still had some strong games, including a season-high 17 points against the Denver Nuggets. In February 2015, Kendrick was traded to the Utah Jazz but was then released two days later.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2015)
Kendrick quickly signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2015. He made his debut the same day. The Cavaliers made it to the 2015 NBA Finals, but they lost to the Golden State Warriors.
New Orleans Pelicans (2015–2016)
In July 2015, Kendrick signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. He started in his first game for the team, scoring 10 points. However, he suffered a right pectoral injury in November and was out for three months. He returned to the team in December.
Canton Charge and Return to Cleveland (2017–2018)
In 2017, Kendrick signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers again for a short time. He then joined their G League team, the Canton Charge. The G League is like a minor league for the NBA. In February 2018, he decided to retire from the G League.
However, Kendrick returned to the Cavaliers in April 2018 for the rest of the season. He played one game for them. The Cavaliers made it to the 2018 NBA Finals but lost to the Golden State Warriors. Kendrick did not play in the playoffs that year. He was released by the Cavaliers in July 2018.
Broadcasting Career
After retiring from playing basketball, Kendrick Perkins became a sports commentator and analyst. He works for ESPN and NBC Sports Boston. You can see him on popular ESPN shows like NBA Today, Get Up, First Take, and SportsCenter. He shares his opinions and insights about basketball games and players.
Personal Life
Kendrick Perkins is a Catholic. He was an altar boy when he was young. It was sometimes hard to find a robe that fit him because he was so tall! He married his longtime girlfriend, Vanity Alpough, in July 2009. They have four children: two sons born in 2007 and 2011, and twins (a son and a daughter) born in 2015.
Kendrick's cousin, Ethan Rusbatch, is also a basketball player. He plays in the New Zealand NBL.
Images for kids
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Perkins with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011
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Perkins with the Celtics in 2007
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Perkins (right) dunking over Brendan Haywood of the Washington Wizards
See also
In Spanish: Kendrick Perkins para niños
