During an ESPN broadcast, former NBA center Kendrick Perkins made a tasteless joke at the expense of Milwaukee Bucks big man Serge Ibaka.
Perkins was discussing his time in Oklahoma City with Ibaka and other former teammates Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. He noted how each player was either 23 years or younger before the 2011-12 campaign.
He then alleged that Ibaka was “probably 30 at the time” because “certain individuals lie” about their age.
This was not the first time, however, Ibaka has confronted such claims. During his free agency period in 2017, Ibaka rebuked ugly stereotypes about Africans with a heartfelt social media statement.
"Kevin Durant is only 23, Westbrook is only 22, Harden is 22, Serge Ibaka is 21, although he was probably 30 at the time because we know how certain individuals lie about their age."
Kendrick Perkins poking fun at Ibaka pic.twitter.com/neGtluQKVH
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 26, 2022
Here is part of what he said at the time:
“I’m sad that to this day there are still prejudices based on your origin and, as Africans, sometimes we need to take a stand.
I was born in the capital of the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville. A city with a population bigger than 1 million. A city with hospitals, a civil registry and an administration. I was born in a caring, loving and united family. I was not born in the jungle.”
Perkins’ gross comments reinforced these unfounded allegations and now, five and a half years later, the NBA veteran had to confront this once again.
He tweeted that it was especially “disappointing” for someone that he shared a locker room with for so long (they appeared on the court together for more than 6,000 minutes while in Oklahoma City) to spread “misinformation” for the sake of maintaining relevancy.
Serge Ibaka is not happy with Kendrick Perkins' joke about his age.
It quickly turned into a venting session from Serge on Perk's "leadership" during their days with Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/IOT1tGiyXz
— Boomtown Hoops (@BoomtownHoops) December 26, 2022
Ibaka added that he would have no problem with Perkins for criticizing his game or on-court performance, but that those comments in particular were “unfounded” and “disrespectful” both to him and to other Africans.
The big man said that he works very hard to maintain his status in the league and was disappointed but not surprised that Perkins said what he did. Ibaka then accused Perkins of “breaking the locker room code” and “spreading lies” about both Durant and Westbrook.
He also added that Perkins was “not a locker room leader” when he played professional basketball and that he does not handle the responsibilities of his current job with class or dignity.
Did you say spreading lies at @sergeibaka ? Please don’t get me started homie!!!! Please don’t. I’m not about to talk about those OKC days and what you were doing in that locker room. I will not… but you definitely need to stop because you know I KNOW!!!! Carry on tho…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) December 26, 2022
Perkins responded to Ibaka, telling him to stop being so sensitive and that he was joking. He also apologized but he then cryptically alluded to undisclosed decisions that Ibaka made while on the Thunder.
There are very few confirmed cases of age fraud in recent NBA history and it is sad to see Perkins continue to spread misinformation about Ibaka and then try to pass it off as nothing more than a harmless joke.
