JJ Redick, Kendrick Perkins yell about racism, false narratives

JJ Redick seems like he’d fairly be receiving a colonoscopy than embracing the talk on First Take. Redick joined ESPN after retirement, driving the success of his podcast The Outdated Man and the Three, and initially appeared like an odd match for First Take. Nevertheless, the extra he strikes a nerve together with his co-workers, the bigger his footprint has grown on the present. Since his insertion into the First Take lineup, Redick — the previous Duke Blue Satan — taking over the talk ombudsman position has change into a typical theme when their basketball evaluation veers into “dangerous narrative” territory.

On Tuesday’s episode, Redick’s confrontational type stirred the pot as soon as once more throughout a contentious back-and-forth with fellow analyst Kendrick Perkins. His newest harangue was in response to essential remarks made by Perkins concerning the inconsistent criterion that has positioned Nikola Jokić to change into the primary participant to hoist a 3rd consecutive MVP since Larry Fowl completed the feat through the Reagan administration. Perkins, a former 16-year professional, implied that Jokić’s standing up to now three MVP races has been as a result of complexion of his pores and skin and Redick took exception to Perkins’ assertions.

Redick used his rebuttal to take Perkins to activity and broke the fourth wall by calling out the present itself for the bottom frequent denominator narratives it pushes.

“What we’ve simply witnessed is the issue with this present. The place we create narratives that don’t exist in actuality,” Redick lamented.

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“The implication — what you are implying, that the white voters that vote on NBA are racist. They favor white people. You just said that.”

Perkins loudly refuted Redick’s interpretation of his comments, shouting, “No, I did not,” at the top of his lungs a dozen times and giving the audience tinnitus.

“I stated the facts!” Perkins repeated.

Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith awkwardly looked away, hopefully contemplating the consequences of the monster he’s fed every weekday on live television for the last decade. The segment ended amicably between Perkins and Redick, but their clashes are a pattern now and becoming even more personal.

First of all, Redick’s points were valid. Perkins insinuated that Jokić’s MVPs could be attributed to his mayonnaise complexion without actually having the conviction to say it out loud. Instead, he alluded to Steve Nash and Larry Bird as two players who shared a commonality with Jokić, then said he’d “go away it to marinate.” Fairly frankly, Perkins’ criticisms of Jokić have been off-base. Jokić deserves this yr’s MVP — even when the primary two have been questionable — however the yelling match on stay tv might have occurred on a Zoom name earlier than the present. Drama is what feeds the beast although. Redick and Perkins additionally engaged in a spat on social media final week over Perkins accusing Jokić of stat padding, so that is nothing new to both of them. Perkins wound up deleting his response, however that’s in all probability as a result of First Take producers needed him to reserve it for the cameras.

For his half, Redick was hypocritical, as a result of his response to earlier Perkins’ Twitter tirade was to counsel he name him first. The way by which he went about it this time is healthier for rankings although. You both retire a hero or stay lengthy sufficient to see your self change into the villain. Redick and the ESPN personalities he’s declared battle on have gotten extra of a hivemind. The target is to drive eyeballs to the present. Come for the talk, keep for the pileups.

Possibly Redick could be extra content material floating between SportsCenter slots as a tv vagabond like Tim Legler or clocking in for NBA At the moment obligation. Possibly he’d wreck the great vibes they’ve over on the NBA At the moment desk, however there’s gotta be some option to derive extra enthusiasm out of speaking hoops than we’re getting from him on First Take.