Kendrick Perkins bashed for calling Knicks' OG Anunoby a "role player"

Kendrick Perkins bashed for calling Knicks’ OG Anunoby a “role player”

NBA analyst and retired champion Kendrick Perkins is often criticized for speaking his mind to the public, with his latest take being no different. On Wednesday night, he shared a bold take on the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers series,

“Said it before the series. Whoever wins the match up between OG and Siakam wins the series,” Perkins posted. “Oh btw OG just might be the best role player in the League.”

The remark starts out reasonable as the matchup between Anunoby and Siakam is crucial, although it perhaps plays second fiddle to the point guard battle between Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton. The Knicks forward finished the Game 2 victory with 28 points and 4 rebounds, while the Pacers star tallied 14 points and 9 rebounds.

However, describing Anunoby as a “role player” seems odd when considering he started in all 50 of his appearances this season and averaged nearly 15 points on 48.9% shooting from the field. Not to mention, he is playing the third-most minutes for the Knicks in the postseason thus far (41.7), and he’s widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA.

The comment clearly wasn’t meant to be a knock on Anunoby’s game since he referred to him as “the best role player” in the NBA, but regardless, it was not received well.

Some fans immediately disagreed with Perkins, pointing out that OG is more than a role player.

Others began arguing about who deserves the title of NBA’s best role player, and the main names that came up were Derrick White (Boston Celtics), Josh Hart (Knicks), and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves).