Former NBA player and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins caused an unexpected pause during a live SportsCenter segment this week after making a comment that briefly left host Elle Duncan silent.
The exchange took place ahead of the NBA season opener between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, as part of ESPN’s coverage leading into the league’s new season.
Duncan opened the segment with a lighthearted pun on Perkins’ nickname, saying, “You know, when you work at ESPN, talking to Kendrick is one of the Perks.” The analyst laughed, and the two continued into a discussion about opening night expectations, team storylines, and key players to watch.
What actually happened on air?
As the segment wrapped, Perkins responded with a joke of his own. “You ready for this one?” he asked Duncan, before adding, “What you need Ibuprofen for when you can have a Perk?” The wordplay prompted several seconds of silence from Duncan, who appeared momentarily caught off guard, before other guests broke into laughter.
Smiling, Duncan eventually replied, “I literally can’t stand you, and I love you,” allowing the show to move on naturally.
Perkins, 40, spent 14 seasons in the NBA and won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008. Since joining ESPN in 2018, he has become one of the network’s most recognizable basketball analysts, known for his candid style and frequent appearances on NBA Today, First Take, and SportsCenter.
The light exchange added an unscripted moment to ESPN’s pregame coverage, which continued with analysis of the night’s doubleheader – Thunder vs. Rockets, followed by Lakers vs. Warriors – marking the official tip-off of the 2025-26 NBA season.
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