Kendrick Perkins has been in the NBA for 10 seasons and has been lucky to play with two of the top point guards in the league. Perkins and Rajon Rondo were teammates on the Boston Celtics for 4.5 seasons, and they became close friends during their time together. After Perk was traded to Oklahoma City, he became teammates with Russell Westbrook.
Perkins says Rondo and Westbrook have more in common than just being All-Star point guards.
“They definitely different [from other point guards],” Perkins told ESPN’s Justin Verrier. “They both some divas. In a good way though.”
Perkins may have said he meant that in a good way, but is there any way to consider calling someone a diva a good thing? “Diva” has a negative connotation no matter what. Additionally, Perkins has seemingly been critical of Westbrook in the past, so this comment won’t help appearances.
As for Westbrook’s overall development, another Thunder player gave a more positive review.
“In training camp [Westbrook] was great,” Nick Collison told Verrier. “He came in this year another year older, another year wiser and more comfortable I think with himself.
“He’s showing a lot of leadership. A lot of things people don’t see; he’s grown up a lot. The way he’s grown, the way Kevin’s grown, it’s helped us adjust from the trade and be able to kind of keep going. They deserve a lot of credit for the way they’ve stepped up as leaders.”
Westbrook and Kevin Durant led the Thunder to the NBA Finals last year, and they have led the Thunder to the best record in the NBA this season. Based on the way he dresses, it’s easy to see why someone would call Westbrook a diva. But it’s hard to criticize the way he plays on the court.
