Not even the Christmas spirit could stop two former teammates from hashing out their differences on Twitter.
After a (now deleted) clip made the rounds on the social media app in which ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins joked about the legitimacy of Serge Ibaka’s age, the latter responded with well-thought-out criticisms of the joke.
Perkins said in the clip that Ibaka was likely 30 years old while with the Thunder during the early years of the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook era. Ibaka has previously faced allegations concerning his true age, but nothing legitimate has ever surfaced to force people to treat them as anything more than subtle xenophobia.
Ibaka responded and said the false accusations are both disrespectful to him and to fellow Africans who face stereotypes of them lying about their age with hopes of entering the league.
Hey @KendrickPerkins, I count my blessings every day and I don’t usually react to comments about me. But It's disappointing to hear someone I shared a locker room with spreading misinformation to be relevant and get views on TV and social media. https://t.co/MRdXJwGpJZ
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) December 26, 2022
You can talk about my game If I don’t play well, I will never have a problem with that. But to talk extra for no reason is really not acceptable. It is disrespectful to me and I feel like it is disrespectful to many Africans who have to live with that unfounded accusation.
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) December 26, 2022
If I was 30 in OKC I guess I am 45 now? The truth is I never lied about my age and I work extremely hard everyday without cheating and I have never been suspended. Everyone in the league knows that. You cheated and didn't respect the game.
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) December 26, 2022
Although I am disappointed I am not surprised to see these actions from someone who got his job by breaking the locker room code and by spreading lies about two of his former teammates and brothers like KD and Russ.
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) December 26, 2022
When KD had a bad game you criticized him behind his back, and when Russ had a bad game then you criticized him. You were not a locker room leader, and then you continued doing the same in the media.
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) December 26, 2022
I understand everyone needs to do their job and take care of their families, but you are proof not everybody knows how to do it with class and dignity. I have more to say about you but I am not that kind of person, but this time you went too far.
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka) December 26, 2022
Perkins initially shrugged off the criticisms from Ibaka, saying he was fooling around before quickly issuing a half-hearted apology and then immediately blackmailing him by threatening to air out his dirty laundry.
Bro it was damn joke. Stop being so damn sensitive.
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) December 26, 2022
Hey @sergeibaka my bad homie if I offended you. It’s was a joke! My bad if it made you feel some type of way!!! My apologies my brother https://t.co/n1SCzEnQL1
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) December 26, 2022
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
One of the greatest strengths about Twitter is it serves as essentially a virtual town hall, making it easy to take the temperature of the room and figure out where public opinion is.
From everything that’s been seen on the app, it appears public opinion backs Ibaka in this situation and commends him for his valid criticisms of baseless stereotypes international players face when entering the league. Meanwhile, Perkins faced heavy backlash for his refusal to see his wrongdoings and his eventual half-measured apology.
This isn’t the first time Perkins has butted heads with former Thunder teammates either. It has been a disturbing trend in recent years during Perkins’ transition from NBA player to ESPN media personality.
Kendrick Perkins has some serious problems lmao. It’s literally been a trend with every former Thunder teammate so far pic.twitter.com/gqxYmZ4xCZ
— Stan Him Boomer Sooner (Hunter Harjo) (@hunterharjo7) December 26, 2022
Perkins and Ibaka were teammates from 2011 to 2015 in Oklahoma City. Perkins, 38, is an ESPN analyst while Ibaka, 33, is on the Milwaukee Bucks.
