The NBA Finals is just around the corner, and just as we turn the page on this new generation, the ongoing debate over who is the GOAT between Michael Jordan and LeBron James continues to flare up on the sidelines.
One former champion believes James’ agent, Rich Paul, is not helping the Lakers superstar’s case.
Kendrick Perkins Wants Rich Paul to Stop Picking on Michael Jordan’s Greatness
Paul appeared on the “Game Over” podcast and defended Scottie Pippen’s role in the Chicago Bulls’ 1990s run, which produced six NBA championships.
Gilbert Arenas, who spent most of his NBA career with the Washington Wizards, believed Pippen should not be on equal footing with five-time MVP Michael Jordan, even though the pair won six championships in Chicago.
He called Pippen’s rings “sidekick rings,” prompting Paul to defend Pippen’s role in the Bulls’ title runs from 1991 to 1993 and from 1996 to 1998.
“He was the most impactful player on the team. If you unplug Scottie Pippen from that team, Jordan is 0-for-6,” Paul claimed.
He insisted that Pippen, with his talent on both sides of the court and physical gifts, should receive equal treatment to Jordan’s because he was willing to take a back seat to make the Bulls unbeatable.
Paul’s claim did not sit well with former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins.
In the latest “Perk Unplugged” segment alongside Houston rap legend Killa Kyleon, Perkins responded to the video clip and urged Paul to stop making statements that would undermine James’ case in GOAT debates.
“This is where he has to stop. This is where he starts to hurt LeBron James GOAT case,” Perkins asserted.
“This is where people start saying the ‘controlling of the narrative.’ You speaking on MJ and saying these things and it’s like ‘Here go Rich Paul, LeBron’s guy to hype up his GOAT status.’ But it’s not hyping it up, it’s actually making it worse!”
Perkins believed Pippen was an asset to the Bulls as an all-around forward who could score and defend, making Jordan’s work easier during their championship run. He disagreed that without Pippen, the Bulls’ premier shooting guard would not have won the championships for Chicago.
Perkins said that while Jordan could not achieve that 6-for-6 championship surge without Pippen, he could still win at least one.
The “feud” between the former NBA champion and Paul has resulted in tense phone conversations and public spats over the years.
The latest narrative that Paul instigated gave Perkins another reason to lash out at the agent’s opinion, which always ends up with him promoting James’ contention over Jordan’s.
While fans and analysts across the globe await the NBA Finals to tip off, the debate over whether Jordan or James is the greatest basketball player ever will forever be a topic of discussion.
