Former Celtics center and 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins is aware that he’s treading hallowed ground. The big fella doesn’t take it lightly either. But just as he did on the basketball court, Perkins gets in there and mixes it up anyway — and he goes ahead and says it: “MJ.” That’s who Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard reminds Perkins of — his airness, Michael Jordan, the GOAT. (That’s Greatest of All Time for those living under a rock. And for those who argue GOAT things — it’s not Kobe or LeBron or even Magic or Kareem — it’s Michael Jeffrey Jordan, with all due apologies to Bill Russell.) All of this Kendrick Perkins knows, but he still can’t help himself because Leonard is THAT GOOD. And to find another guy like Leonard, Perkins has to turn to Jordan — there’s nobody else. Of all the kids who grew up dreaming and singing “I wanna be I wanna Be like Mike” Perkins thinks Leonard has the best voice for the role.
“This may sound crazy but Kawhi Leonard reminds me of Michael Jordan,” Perkins begins. But then he’s not just a talking head trying to incite another senseless GOAT argument. He explains why and with such calm enthusiasm: “If you watch the way he plays, his style, the way he plays the game on both ends, he has a game that mimics Michael Jordan. He’s not all the way fancy, he gets to his spots, nice turnarounds, big hands, palm the ball and on the defensive end he’s probably the best in the game.” That’s the five reasons for the praise in a nutshell:
- methodical over fancy
- understanding the court “gets to his spots”
- the turnaround jumper
- big hands control, palm the ball
- ferocious defense
“This may sound crazy but Kawhi Leonard reminds me of Michael Jordan.”
Kendrick Perkins on @GetUpESPN pic.twitter.com/b6ATgrq6Qi
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 22, 2019
