Former Cleveland Cavaliers Kendrick Perkins and Kyrie Irving were only teammates for a few months in 2015, but it’s clear that they didn’t establish a friendship during that time.
With Irving possibly leaving the Boston Celtics in free agency next month, Perkins’ indifference about the point guard’s future in a recent interview speak volumes about his disdain for the point guard.
Perkins was interviewed by Kristine Leahy for the Fox Sports 1 series, “Fair Game,” and was asked which team Irving might sign with when free agency arrives.
“I really don’t care,” Perkins said. “I really don’t care who Kyrie signs with.”
Asked by Leahy if he was a fan of Irving, Perkins quickly dispelled that notion, with Leahy agreeing with his attitude.
“Not at all,” said Perkins. “He really disappointed me for the way he represented the Celtics this year, so I’d rather not even speak on it. I don’t care who he signs with.”
Perkins’ disgust with Irving’s behavior in Boston was due because the big man had spent the first half of his 14-year NBA career with the Celtics. During the 2007-08 season, he was part of the first Celtics title team in more than three decades and also competed in the 2010 NBA Finals.
Some of Irving’s behavior included openly criticizing teammates, while avoiding responsibility for mistakes, which led to the second-round exit of a team that was considered a title contender. In addition, going back on his pledge to re-sign with the Celtics was also a source of controversy.
At present, there’s no indication exactly where Irving will end up, though some early reports indicate that the Brooklyn Nets are strong contenders to sign the eight-year veteran. The only thing that is certain is that Perkins will not be among those waiting to find out the answer.
