“OKC, KFC, UFC… Lakers in 5!” The phrase had X in splits and TikTok spinning with edits. It was catchy, bold, and screamed confidence, classic Shannon Sharpe, we can say. As a lifelong LeBron James fan and unapologetic Los Angeles Lakers supporter, Sharpe hasn’t shied away from making loud predictions, especially after the Lakers ended this season strong with a 50-32 record in the West.
But now, with the Lakers down 0-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins has taken the first shot.
Kendrick Perkins Jabs at Shannon Sharpe
On Saturday, April 19, the Lakers took on the Timberwolves in Game 1 of their playoff series. Sharpe, brimming with confidence, had already declared “Lakers in 5,” expecting a gentleman’s sweep. But Minnesota quieted that hype with a dominant 117-95 win and putting the pressure squarely back on L.A.
Wasting no time, Perkins took to X with a sarcastic jab.
“Guess the Lakers gotta win the next 4 @ShannonSharpe,” wrote Perkins.
To be fair, the game didn’t start off looking like a blowout. The Lakers actually came out strong, leading by seven points at the end of the first quarter. But the Timberwolves quickly flipped the script in the second quarter. Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid got into rhythm, and Minnesota went on a 38-20 run that left LA scrambling.
From that point on, it was all Timberwolves. Despite a monster performance by Luka Dončić, who poured in 37 points, and a solid 19 from James, the Lakers simply couldn’t recover. Their defense looked out of sync, and offensively, they were too reliant on isolation plays. The Timberwolves, on the other hand, looked cohesive, hungry, and prepared.
Now, with the Lakers already behind in the series, Sharpe’s phrase is being thrown back at him like a boomerang. Game 2 is set for Tuesday, April 22, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Lakers must bounce back, or the Timberwolves might just flip the phrase entirely: “Wolves in 5?”
Perkins Wasn’t Only 1 To Throw Jab at Sharpe
Being a James fan has often come with its fair share of baggage for Sharpe. Whenever James falters (even in the slightest way), Sharpe becomes a target for criticism from fellow analysts. So after the Lakers’ loss in Game 1, history repeated itself.
Just like Perkins, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith also took to X to throw a jab at Sharpe. Referring to the former NFL tight end’s viral quote, Smith sarcastically questioned the bold prediction.
“Someone just text me with this message to send DIRECTLY to @ShannonSharpe: Triple-A….NWA…..I Don’t Care what Shannon has to say = Lakers AIN’T winning in 5,” wrote Smith.
Now, with the series hanging in the balance, both Dončić and James will need to dig deep and lead their teams with urgency in the remaining playoff games.