It finally happened. The brotherhood that survived grueling NBA seasons and years of AAU memories has hit a wall. When Kendrick Perkins calls out LeBron James, it’s not just another talking head filling airtime on ESPN. This is different. This is personal.
For years, Perk was arguably LeBron’s loudest defender in the media. If you tuned into First Take or NBA Today, you knew what to expect: Perkins shouting about "The King" while Stephen A. Smith rolled his eyes. But the vibe shifted dramatically over the last year. Now, the two former teammates aren't even on speaking terms on social media. LeBron hit the "unfollow" button on X (formerly Twitter) back in June 2024, and things have only gotten frostier since.
Why the Bronny James Discussion Changed Everything
The real fracture started with Bronny James. Honestly, most fathers are protective, but LeBron takes it to another level. Perkins, doing his job as an analyst, started questioning the massive hype surrounding Bronny’s entry into the league.
Perk didn't hold back. He pointed out that Bronny being a McDonald’s All-American was questionable given his stats. He even compared Bronny to kids from his own hometown who were averaging 30 points a game but got jumped by LeBron's son in the rankings.
"I lost some friends," Perkins admitted recently on the Out The Mud podcast. "I lost Russ, KD, Bron. I had to speak on the sh** though. Bron got mad at me because we was talking about Bronny, about the draft."
Perkins basically said what a lot of people were thinking: why are we spending 20 minutes of a broadcast talking about the 55th pick in the draft? To LeBron, that wasn't "keeping it real." It was a betrayal.
The "Mind the Game" Controversy and Steve Nash
If the Bronny stuff was the spark, the podcasting world was the gasoline. When LeBron launched Mind the Game, he claimed he wanted to "save the essence of basketball" from the "clickbait" media.
Perkins took that personally. Very personally.
On First Take, Perk went on a legendary rant. He told LeBron to "stop it" and argued that James only wants the media to cover the game exactly how he dictates. But the real "call out" came when JJ Redick left the podcast to coach the Lakers, and LeBron brought in Steve Nash as the new co-host.
Perkins didn't just question the hire; he questioned the optics. He listed off names like Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, and Phil Handy—all Black basketball minds who had won titles with LeBron. He asked why none of those guys got the call.
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"What I'm getting at is why none of those guys, LeBron?" Perkins asked. It was a heavy insinuation that James was bypassing his actual friends for specific "types" of co-hosts.
The Lakers' "Ugly" Body Language
Fast forward to late 2025. The Lakers are struggling. After a brutal 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, Perkins went for the jugular. He didn't just critique the play; he critiqued LeBron’s soul.
He called LeBron out for "pouting, moping, and walking up and down the damn floor." As someone who shared a locker room with James, Perk claimed he could read the body language better than anyone. He basically told the world that the LeBron-Lakers relationship has run its course and they need to "divorce."
It’s a wild arc. You’ve got a guy who used to be LeBron’s "enforcer" now telling him to retire to protect his legacy. Perk is out here saying that every day LeBron stays on the floor, he's actually hurting his GOAT argument because the expectations are too high for a 40-year-old.
What This Means for the "New Media"
The beef between Kendrick Perkins and LeBron James highlights a massive shift in how the NBA is covered. LeBron wants control. He wants the Mind the Game style where everything is high-level strategy and no drama.
Perkins, however, represents the "old school" guys who transitioned into "new media." He’s loud, he’s unfiltered, and he’s willing to burn a bridge if it means he’s being "authentic."
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The fallout is real:
- Social Media Snubs: LeBron unfollowed Perk, which in 2026 is the ultimate "we aren't friends" signal.
- Direct Rebuttals: LeBron has used his platform to subtly (and sometimes not-so-subtly) mock the "talking heads" like Perkins.
- The Friendship Cost: Perk admits he lost a brother, but he’s doubling down on his "truth."
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following this drama, here's how to actually digest the news without getting lost in the "hot take" cycle:
- Watch the Body Language: Next time you watch a Lakers game, don't just look at the box score. Look at how LeBron interacts with the bench when they’re down 10. Perkins is right about one thing: the moping tells a bigger story than 25 points do.
- Verify the Quotes: When you see a headline about Perkins "blasting" LeBron, check the source. Perk usually does this on First Take or his own podcast appearances. The context of his "brotherly love" often gets stripped away for clicks.
- Separate the Son from the Father: Understand that the Bronny criticism is the third rail. If you want to see LeBron get truly angry, that's the topic that does it.
- Look at the Coaching: Keep an eye on the JJ Redick and LeBron dynamic. Perkins has already started blaming Redick for "exhausting" LeBron by playing him too many minutes. This will be the next major battleground for these two.
The "King" might still rule the court, but Kendrick Perkins has made it clear he’s no longer a member of the royal court. He’s the guy shouting from the sidelines, and whether you love him or hate him, he’s usually saying the things other former teammates are too scared to whisper.
To stay updated on the latest shifts in this rivalry, pay close attention to the post-game press conferences following Lakers' losses. That is where the real "subliminals" are traded between the locker room and the ESPN studios.