NBA Won't Comment on Kendrick Perkins Compromising MVP Voting Process Again To Spite Jokic

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins' role in the NBA race last season was shameful. But it was profound.

Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was the prohibitive favorite to win his third straight MVP award until one cold day in March when Perkins accused white voters of favoring Jokic to satisfy their "Great White Hope" fantasies. 

From that moment, weaselly white voters began justifying voting for other, less deserving black candidates. Perkins' quantitatively disproved narrative (fewer than 14 percent of MVP winners are white) ultimately cost Jokic the award. 

Voters handed it to Joel Embiid, instead.

Jokic lost the MVP last season because he's white. Even Black Sports Online, a site built around the supposed racial grievances of black athletes, admitted so last week:

"If we are honest while Jokic is more than deserving a lot of voters are going to vote for him as an apology for listening to Kendrick Perkins and being scared of being label as racist if they voted for him last season. Only to see him wreck the league in playoffs and making them look like idiots for being influenced by Big Perk."

What's more, Perkins had a vote himself. He was one of about 100 voters last year. 

Yet he didn't vote for the most valuable player in the NBA, as per his responsibility. He voted for the most valuable black player, ultimately choosing Giannis Antetokounmpo over Embiid.

Kendrick Perkins is compromised. He has a self-admitted interest in ensuring a black player wins the award each season. His inclusion in the pool undermines the credibility of the award process. 

And yet, he was awarded a vote again this season – to the chagrin and surprise of multiple sources within the sports media industry.  

CHICAGO - ESPN Analyst, Kendrick Perkins, reports on the 2022 NBA Draft Combine on May 18, 2022 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

Surely, Perkins wouldn't embarrass the voting pool again. Right? 

Jokic closed the season at around -4000 to win MVP. No voter can, in good faith, say Jokic was not the most deserving player during the 2023-24 season.

Luckily, for Perkins, he doesn't operate in good faith.

Fans can track submitted MVP ballots from voters ahead of the announcement. Nineteen voters have thus far confirmed their vote. Perkins is one of them. He is also one of only three voters not to vote for Jokic.

He must have voted for Luka Doncic, then, right? 

While Luka is not Jokic – no one is – he did put forth one of the most statistically prolific seasons in NBA history. Luka averaged a league-high 33.9 points per game along with 9 assists and 10 rebounds. 

But Perkins did not vote for Luka, either.

He voted for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder guard had a great season. However, he in no way outbid Jokic (or Luka) for MVP honors. SGA was merely the most valuable black player in the NBA, thus earning him Perkins' vote. 

How can the NBA justify allowing Perkins to rig its voting process for two straight seasons? We sought to find that answer. OutKick sent NBA PR officials Danny Kanner and Chase Kressel the following email:

Danny and Chase,

Do you guys have a comment on the NBA still allowing Perkins to have an MVP vote? He admitted last year that he didn’t want Jokic to win because he’s white. He just tweeted he didn’t vote for Jokic again. Does the NBA find it concerning that someone who has a personal issue with a player has a vote to keep the MVP out of his hands?

Unfortunately, the NBA did not respond to our request for comment. We will be sure to update this story if it does. 

Nikola Jokic operates out of the post vs. Boston Celtics C Kristaps Porzingis at the TD Garden. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Silly or not, MVP awards matter to the legacy of players. MVPs can be the difference between securing a sponsorship or not. Awards are the difference between where one ranks among the hierarchy of the league's greatest players. 

Jokic would've joined only eight other players in winning three straight MVPs last season. Jokic should be closing in on his fourth straight MVP right now, as in the first player ever to do so.

All but for Perkins' threat to voters. Perkins cost Jokic a bid for history.

Kendrick Perkins compromised the NBA voting process, stripping it of its integrity. He should not have a vote. Nor should the white voters who changed their ballots, while cowering in fear of Perkins' easily disproved charges of racism.