UNITED STATES.- Facing LeBron James It is often seen as a privilege for many players in the NBA. For others it can be a nightmare because of what it can generate on the field. On this last list stands out Kendrick Perkinsa former league player who confessed that he wished the forward a serious injury: “I prayed that something would happen to him.”
In dialogue with JJ Redick, another player who retired last season from the league, expressed on the program The Old Man & the Three Podcast his bad intentions with the then Cleveland Cavaliers player. He went in a playoff series against the Boston Celtics, where at the time he was playing inside. He said he was scared to play against one of the stars of the league.
In the podcast he revealed what he felt that day: “We were going to play against the Cavaliers in Game 7 of the 2008 playoffs. We had just lost Game 6 and, I’m not gonna lie man, I was pretty scared before that game against LeBron.” He then launched his controversial phrase: That was the only time in my life that I prayed that something would happen to him in the warm-up. I thought I wish they told us LeBron tore his ACL or something.“.
On that occasion, LeBron, who was seeking his revenge in the NBA after losing the Finals 4-0 against the Spurs last year, had no luck. The forward stood out with 45 points that day, but the Celtics were the ones who lifted the title that day. That same season would end with the consecration against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Together in the NBA
Years later and at the height of Perkins’ career, the player had the chance to meet the King after passing through the Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder. Between 2015 and 2018, he was part of the team. He did it in the runner-up against the Golden State Warriors. Three years later he returned to the Cavs, where he ended up cut and it was the end of his career in the league and the start of his career as an ESPN commentator.
