Kendrick Perkins was one of the heavier NBA players of his era, but now he is criticizing Karl-Anthony Towns over his weight.
During an appearance this week on his “Perk Unplugged” podcast, the ESPN analyst Perkins called for the New York Knicks star big man Towns to shed some pounds. Perkins specifically mentioned that Towns should lose around 15 pounds to get into better shape for next season.
“Karl-Anthony Towns, if I was you, I’d go lose me about 15 pounds,” said Perkins, per Awful Announcing. “You get 15 pounds off of you, bro, and you stay consistent… It’s going to be smoke. Boy, you going to be ready. I’m telling y’all, man. I’m looking forward.”
The five-time All-Star Towns is officially listed at 248 pounds. That is not bad for a seven-footer, especially one like Towns who needs to be physical down low but is still able to do a lot of damage from the perimeter (as a career 40 percent three-point shooter).
As for Perkins, he played in the NBA from 2003-18. He was listed at a far heavier weight than Towns at 270 pounds despite being a couple of inches shorter at 6-foot-10.
The Knicks, who lost in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, will be looking for ways to take the next step in 2025-26, especially now that the conference is wide-open thanks to the injuries of Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and others. Perkins, meanwhile, has his own advice for what Towns and the Knicks might be able to do better (which is similar to the weight loss advice that Perkins once ironically gave to Zion Williamson).
