“They don’t watch basketball”: Kendrick Perkins raises severe question over Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley’s analytical skills

Shaquille O’Neal is widely known for his controversial statements besides his kind and amusing nature. One of his bold statements that raised eyebrows was his prediction regarding the New York Knicks’ dismissal from the playoff round when they face his former team, the Orlando Magic.

Former NBA player-turned-analyst Charles Barkley did not shy away from seconding the opinion that the Knicks will be swept early from the post-season tournament. However, Kendrick Perkins was offended by the views of the TNT panelists who have often passed remarks on the New York franchise.

In ‘The Michael Kay Show’, when the host asked Perkins regarding his views on the matter, without a second thought the 39-year-old said, “Obviously they don’t watch basketball.” Further adding to the serious claim he made, Perkins said, “The only time they actually probably watch the Knicks are when they’re covering the Knicks on their game nights.”

According to Perk, if someone closely follows how the Eastern team has climbed its way up in the Conference table to clinch the second spot, then they would not throw such statements. Despite major fallbacks this season with injuries and poor performances, the Knicks pulled themselves back on track, majorly thanks to Jalen Brunson.

If Perkins thought he could get away by claiming that Shaq doesn’t watch the sport that he once was an integral part of, then he couldn’t have been more wrong.

Shaquille O’Neal responds to Kendrick Perkins

As Kendrick Perkins’ comments on Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley started surfacing on the internet, the “Big Aristotle” asked a question on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter). Calling out the former Boston Celtics player, O’Neal wrote, “Can a non-hall of famer speak on two hall of famers just asking.”

Perkins will assumably not stretch the matter following Shaq’s harsh tweet flaunting his and Chuck’s Hall of Fame recognition, which KP does not have.

The two opinionated analysts have often taken a dig at the Knicks predicting that the team would have a hard time surviving in the play-off round and face defeat. Although their prophecy hasn’t come true yet, the New York franchise awaits their first play-off round opponent. Despite having a healthy 50-32 regular season record, a play-off means more than anything else which Shaquille O’Neal knows far too well.