Kendrick Perkins had some strong words for LeBron James on Friday and by the end of the night, he had to take them back.
Earlier in the day on First Take, Perkins called James a "41-year-old senior citizen" trying to carry a struggling Los Angeles Lakers team. The Los Angeles Lakers then went out and beat the Houston Rockets 98-78, tightening their grip on the first-round series. Perkins didn't wait long to address it.
"Definitely wasn't expecting a 41-year-old Bron James to have this type of energy but I knew better than to underestimate the 🐐 God Bless America," he posted on X.
Perkins Had Backed the Rockets Before Tip-Off
It wasn't just the senior citizen comment. Before the game, Perkins made a case for Houston taking control of the series, arguing momentum had fully shifted toward the younger squad.
He pointed to James' age as a liability that would only grow as the series wore on and suggested the Rockets' youth and physical style were beginning to wear the Lakers down. In his view, Houston was playing with pride at every level and had all the key factors working in their favor.
None of it held up.
LeBron James Answered on the Court
James finished with 28 points on 10-of-25 shooting, going 2-of-5 from three and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. He added 7 rebounds and 8 assists. It was the kind of complete performance that quieted the Houston crowd and pushed back hard against the upset talk surrounding this series.
Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves gave him real support too, contributing 21 and 15 points respectively. Defensively, the Lakers were locked in, holding the Rockets to their lowest point total of the season.
The win mattered beyond the box score. Los Angeles came into Game 6 under real pressure after letting a commanding 3-0 series lead get trimmed to 3-2 following back-to-back losses. A collapse was a legitimate conversation. Friday night shut that down.
Doubts around James tend to resurface after one quiet outing. He keeps answering them. At 41, he continues to reset what's possible at this stage of a career and remains the measuring stick for longevity and production in the NBA.
Perkins has never been shy about going after James. This time, the response came before he even had time to fully commit to the take.
