Everyone had something to say about First Take last month when a debate between Kendrick Perkins and JJ Redick devolved into a shouting match. Redick took exception to Perkins implying that there was racial bias amongst NBA MVP voters.
At the time of the debate, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Nikola Jokić would win the award for the third consecutive year. Now, as the regular season comes to a close, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid is the betting favorite.
“I want to send a brief shout out to my man Perk, a quote ‘formerly great, now disgraced philosopher.’ No one man should have all that power,” Bomani Jones said Friday on The Right Time. “You say whatever you want. Perk completely shifted a national discussion.”
Perkins may have put a spotlight on how well Embiid was playing. That may have made some voters reconsider their vote, but Jones doesn’t think that is the only reason the predictions changed.
Even after the All-Star break, Jokić’s victory was considered a near certainty. He was putting up 26 points, 13 rebounds and 9.5 assists each night on 64% shooting. Jones noted that Embiid began playing in a way that is synonymous with MVP honors. He called it “one man band dominance” and said that is what truly changed the race.
“I think Embiid’s gonna end up getting it and honestly, at this point, I hope he does, because if he doesn’t, it’s gonna get unnecessarily dicey out here in these streets,” he said.
Shows like First Take are meant to get people talking. That happened when Kendrick Perkins questioned the motivations of MVP voters.
“What he was saying wasn’t ridiculous,” said Domonique Foxworth, who joins Jones on his podcast every Friday. “The response to it, I think, was disproportionate.”
Bomani Jones doesn’t expect that anyone is going to apologize to Kendrick Perkins or admit that he may have had a point. He thinks ESPN at least owes the former NBA champion and McDonald’s All-American a little more airtime now, saying he should be back on First Take regularly during the NBA Playoffs.
“I tell you this: They’d sure as hell have him back on the shows if he was wrong.”
He concluded that Kendrick Perkins probably feels justified in his comments, but it is likely he isn’t alone.
“You know who feels just as right? JJ,” Jones said. “You can’t say the writers have racial bias now if they vote for Embiid, now can you?”
