In a candid admission, former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins has publicly expressed his regret over casting his Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) vote for Rudy Gobert. Perkins, known for his straightforward takes, did not mince words when he described this decision as the “biggest regret” of his media career.
During a segment on ESPN’s First Take, Perkins vehemently criticized Gobert’s performance in the postseason, particularly highlighting the Minnesota Timberwolves center’s struggles against top-tier talent. Perkins pointed out that Gobert’s inability to effectively guard players like Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving one-on-one has led many to question the validity of the DPOY award.
Perkins went as far as to say that Gobert has “tarnished” the DPOY award, a statement that underscores the gravity of his disappointment.
“Me voting this season for Rudy Gobert is an embarrassment for me. He’s the first player that we see every single time in the postseason that becomes a defensive liability. Don’t come give me these analytics, don’t come give me these plus-minus stats…When I look at Rudy, he has tarnished the Defensive Player of the Year award.”
Kendrick Perkins says that he’s embarrassed he used his Defensive Player of the Year vote on Rudy Gobert and calls it the biggest regret of his media career.
“He has tarnished the Defensive Player of the Year award. He has. He’s not respected by his peers. We saw what happened… pic.twitter.com/P4ykITaNZu
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 28, 2024
The former NBA champion’s frustration was palpable as he spoke about the expectations placed on a DPOY recipient. Perkins emphasized that the award should reflect a player’s ability to be a defensive stalwart consistently, even under the high-pressure conditions of the playoffs.
In light of his self-proclaimed voting mishap, Perkins announced his intention to retire from his role as a voter for NBA awards.
