Kendrick Perkins has discovered that being outspoken in today’s NBA media landscape can have serious personal consequences-particularly when it involves LeBron James and his son, Bronny James.
Appearing on the Out The Mud podcast on October 25, Perkins reflected on how his honest opinions about Bronny’s draft hype came back to haunt him, costing him relationships with some of basketball’s biggest stars.
He explained that after questioning whether Bronny’s media attention was earned or simply a result of his father’s legacy, he found himself on the outs with several friends.
In June 2024, LeBron reportedly unfollowed Perkins on X following the former player’s remarks, which challenged the legitimacy of the young guard’s draft buzz.
“I really, really lost, I lost some friends. I lost the media. Russ, KD, Bron – like, I lost. And it be hard situations, bro,” Perkins admitted. “Like, we talked about the McDonald’s game, and like, Bron got mad at me because we was talking about Bronny, you know what I’m saying? About the draft.
“I really didn’t want to touch on it because I’m like, bro, first of all, we shouldn’t be talking about the 55th pick. Like, I get it, it’s his son, but then we get to diving into it, and next thing you know, sometimes you get that microphone in front of you or that, you know what I’m saying? It’s like, now I got to go all the way there.”
LeBron’s influence and reactions beyond the court
The timing of Perkins’ comments also didn’t help him, as they came just months after LeBron publicly asked the media to “let the kid be a kid,” signaling how he was growing tired of neverending focus on Bronny .
That tension later spilled into sports talk segments, with Perkins suggesting that LeBron can be overly protective when it comes to his family.
Reports also surfaced earlier this year of a heated exchange between LeBron and Stephen A. Smith on First Take, where the four-time MVP warned him to “keep my son out of this sh**.”
Former NBA guard Jeff Teague added his own perspective on LeBron’s reach in media circles. He shared how quickly word spreads when anyone makes a remark about the Lakers star.
“The moment I said anything, anytime you say anything about LeBron James, people call you and say, ‘hey man, you might wanna chill,'” Teague said. “I know you got some fun stories and s-t, leave LeBron alone.”
Teague’s story echoes Perkins’ experience-illustrating how LeBron’s influence extends well beyond the court and how speaking about him or his family can come at a personal cost.
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