WATCH: ESPN’s Redick, Perkins Have Fiery Exchange Over Claim Racism Rules NBA’s MVP Vote

J.J. Redick was an NBA analyst and got into a heated argument with Kendrick Perkins from ESPN Tuesday, after Perkins suggested that white players would be preferred over black players for the MVP voting.

Perkins had initially accused leading MVP candidate Nikola Jokić, an eight-year veteran who has already won the award twice, of “stat-padding,” then noted that since 1990, only Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Jokić — all of whom are white — had won the MVP without finishing in the top 10 in scoring.

“What do those guys have in common?” Perkins asked. “I’ll let it sit there and marinate. You think about it. When it comes down to moving the goalposts for certain individuals to win it, again, is it Oochie Wally? Or is it One Mic? What song are we actually dancing to right now, why is this subject not brought up?”

Redick appeared with “First Take” Perkins was the host. Perkins began by calmly applauding Smith. “an honor” He was scheduled to be on-air every other day. He then let loose.

“But what we’ve just witnessed is the problem with this show, where we create narratives that do not exist in reality,” Redick is white, and he played for the NBA 15 years. “The implication, what you are implying, that the white voters that vote on NBA are racist, that they favor white people.”

Perkins (black, retired after 14 years of service) appeared to be protesting Redick’s decision to cut him off.

“You just said that,” He shot back. “Yes, you did. Yes, you did. That is exactly what you implied, Kendrick Perkins. That is exactly what you implied. Secondly —”

“I cited the facts,” Perkins shouted. “I stated the facts and you —”

“We all know what you implied the other day,” Redick is charged. “We all know what you implied just now.”

“I stated it,” Perkins kept yelling. “It’s the facts. It’s the facts. It’s the facts.”

JJ Redick denounces First Take. He also rebuts Kendrick Perrykins’ claim that NBA MVP votes have a bias against Black athletes. pic.twitter.com/7pOMmGW4AH

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2023

The show ended with the two appearing to relax.

“I appreciate you for challenging me on this whole conversation because, guess what, it’s an uncomfortable conversation, but it was something that needed to be had,” Perkins spoke. “The simple fact is this, this is how a lot of former African American players have been feeling for decades now.”

Redick appeared to be grateful for Perkins’ gesture.

“I respect your experience. I respect every former player’s experience. I can’t speak on that. I understand what you’re saying,” Redick replied.

This is the solution pic.twitter.com/ZZb4Du1MhH

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2023

Charles Barkley of the NBA Hall of Fame, who was awarded the league MVP award for the 1992-1993 season, took Perkins to task later, claiming that MVP voters are racist.

“That’s asinine and silly,” Barkley told Altitude Sports Radio. “Asinine, silly, and stupid. Pick one of the words, whatever one you want.”

Former basketball star and voluble ex-player, he said that many people get what he called “the voluble” “ESPN disease” They try to provoke viewers when they speak on the air. Barkley said the claim was especially unfair to Jokić, the Serbian-born center for the Denver Nuggets who is averaging 24.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 10 assists per game.

“And this is what bothers me also, man, race is such a touchy subject because very few people have a pure heart,” Barkley spoke. “We can talk about race as much as you want to as long as you’re going to be fair and honest. But to slander [Jokić] in this situation is just total BS.”

“From WATCH: ESPN’s Redick, Perkins Have Fiery Exchange Over Claim Racism Rules NBA’s MVP Vote“

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