Former NBA star JJ Redick sparks furious debate over First Take by accusing the show of ‘creating narratives’ and criticizing the host for claiming ‘white MVP voters are racially biased against black players’
Things heated up at First Take between JJ Redick and Kendrick Perkins on Tuesday, as the former NBA sharpshooter accused the show of “creating narratives” while they debated Nikola Jokic’s MVP candidacy.
The case for the Serbian center winning a potential third straight MVP has been widely debated, but former Celtic Perkins ventured into new territory last week when he seemed to suggest the Nugget run was giving him an advantage.
Redick has been a strong defender of Jokic’s bona fides as MVP, and things boiled over on ESPN Tuesday when Perkins brought up the racial makeup of league award voters.
‘What we just witnessed is the problem with this program. Where we create narratives that don’t exist in reality,’ Redick said.
‘The implication, what you’re implying, that white voters who vote in the NBA are racist, they favor white people. You just said that.
JJ Redick and Kendrick Perkins argued as host Stephen A. Smith looked on
Perkins replied, ‘I didn’t,’ before shouting, ‘I laid out the facts!’ repeatedly.
The root of the pair’s disagreement stems from Perkins’ comments last week, where he largely implied that Jokic had won two MVPs (and could win another) because he was white.
“When it comes to guys who’ve won MVPs since 1990, only three guys who’ve won MVPs haven’t been in the top 10 in scoring,” Perkins said on First Take.
Do you know who those three guys were? Steve Nash, Jokic and Dirk Nowitzki. Now what do those guys have in common? I’ll let it sit there and marinate. Think about it.’
Jokic actually finished sixth in points per game last season, but that didn’t stop Perkins from discrediting his MVP candidacy.
“When it comes to MVP voting, 80 percent of the voters are white Americans,” he said Tuesday.
Perkins also accused Jokic of “boosting the stats,” or playing in a way that seeks extra assists or rebounds, even though Denver has won the past 28 games in which it has posted a triple-double.
“When it comes to stat-boosting across the league, JJ of all people should know that this happens in the locker room,” Perkins said last week.
“That’s why guys don’t take half-court shots late in the quarters because they don’t want to mess up their 3-point percentage.”
Perkins mentioned Steve Nash’s 2006 MVP take on Kobe Bryant, when the late Lakers star averaged 31.6 points per game and dragged his team to the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic could win his third straight MVP award for the Nuggets
Redick, seen here with DeAndre Jordan, has become a media force after retiring from the sport.
‘Was something strange happened?’ Perkins inquired about that year’s award, adding fuel to the fire.
Perkins continued his argument on Twitter afterwards. writing, ‘Last year I was a***. This year I am racist. Well, damn it, what is it? IT’S NOT EITHER. I explain the facts and I’m not afraid to talk to the elephant in the room.’
Jokic is averaging 24.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game for Denver this season.
They have a whopping seven game lead atop the Western Conference.