LeBron's Friendship Fray: Perkins Speaks Out

Los Angeles, USASat Oct 25 2025
LeBron James is sitting out the Lakers' games right now because of a back problem. Meanwhile, the team is struggling, having lost their first game of the season to the Warriors. Tonight, they face the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the pressure is on. Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA player turned analyst, recently shared some personal insights. He mentioned that he used to be friends with LeBron James, but things changed. Perkins said he had to speak his mind about Bronny James, LeBron's son, which didn't go down well with the Lakers star. Bronny was picked 55th in the 2024 NBA draft, and Perkins felt that talking about him wasn't necessary. But as an analyst, he had to share his thoughts. Perkins admitted that he didn't want to discuss Bronny, but his job required him to. He said, \"I lost Russ, KD, Bron. I had to speak on the (expletive) though. \" This suggests that LeBron was upset with him for commenting on his son's draft position. Perkins also mentioned that he didn't want to talk about the 55th pick, but sometimes the job demands it. Fans had a lot to say about this. Some questioned Perkins' friendships, while others felt that Bronny's skills weren't up to par. A few fans even suggested that Perkins was prioritizing clicks over friendship. The reactions were mixed, with some supporting Perkins' honesty and others criticizing his approach. This situation highlights the challenges of balancing personal relationships with professional responsibilities. It also raises questions about the role of analysts and the impact of their comments on players and their families.
https://localnews.ai/article/lebrons-friendship-fray-perkins-speaks-out-42e004fc

questions

    How does the NBA community generally view the intersection of personal relationships and professional commentary in sports analysis?
    What role does the media play in amplifying conflicts between athletes and analysts?
    Could there be an underlying agenda behind Kendrick Perkins' comments that goes beyond professional analysis?

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