Kendrick Perkins (6:31)

How's everything, big bro? What's happening?

Stephen A. Smith (6:35)

All right, talk to me, man. First of all, let's get right started with the warriors and the Grizzlies last night watching that game. Are you of the mindset now that the warriors are in a position to make a run for the conference finals?

Kendrick Perkins (6:48)

I'm not. And here's, here's why I say think about this. 80% of the points had to come from Jimmy and Steph Curry last night. They played a lot of minutes. They came with. They can't stand that playing against a young athletic Rockets team who by the way have more pesky defenders than the Memphis Grizzlies. And so I'm looking at this situation and I'm saying it took a lot out of them for them to out of Jim and Stealth. Look at those numbers to even get that victory. Now you're going against a He May Udoka led team that thrive on playing defense at the highest level level, one of the best defensive teams. And you're going to go in and say that I'm going to rely on those two guys in the seven game series that is going to be physical. They need a third option. And here's what I want to ask you. What the hell is going on with Steve Kerr and Jonathan Kaminga? I just don't know.

Stephen A. Smith (7:46)

I don't know. I mean listen, Kaminga, let me tell you this right, Kaminga. Let me tell you this about Kaminga. He's averaging more points against the Rockets than anybody else on the Warriors 21.3. I don't understand. He's the most, he's arguably the most athletic guy on the Golden State Warriors. I don't understand how the hell this dude is, is, is. I don't want to say street clothes because he had on a sweatsuit, a Warrior sw but he clearly wasn't dressed to play. And Steve Kerr, what I, as far as I'm concerned, pulled a Jason Tatum on him telling them yo before the game we ain't gonna find any time for you. What sense does that make, Perk?

Kendrick Perkins (8:19)

It makes, it makes no sense. And here's another, here's the add on to what you're saying. This is a young man that is in his contract year. So now even when if Steve Kerr does decide to go to him, which I believe he needs to in order for Golden State to even have a chance of winning this series against the Rockets. How do he bounce back from this? Right, like now you're testing this young man mental toughness, which I think Jonathan Minga is really mentally tough. But he's in his contract year and as a former player with Steve Kerr was. You should understand that. And it's this like, it's like this ego of. Once you get stuck, once he gets stuck in his ways, this is how he's going to go about things. But I'm gonna say this. If he doesn't, if he choose not to use Jonathan Kaminga, the Rockets are going to win that series.

Stephen A. Smith (9:15)

I will say this to you, Jonathan. Jonathan Kaminga doesn't have a player option. He's got a qual, a qualifying offer. And so I'm looking at the number like they're saying, here's 10.2 million he's scheduled to make next year. If I'm Jonathan Kaminga and Steve Kerr doesn't play me this summer, I want out. I want out. That I, I don't think he should want to be a Golden State Warrior if that's going to happen. Let's go to the Rockets for a quick second. What's made them so good this year? And, and why do you give them. Specifically, why do you give them such a chance of beating the warriors in the series?

Kendrick Perkins (9:49)

Well. Well, one, I don't know who you voted for for Joe Coach of the Year, but I voted for ime udoka. This team.

Stephen A. Smith (9:57)

He was in my top three. He was in my top 3. I voted for Bickerstaff for Detroit.

Kendrick Perkins (10:02)

I'm not mad at that. I'm not mad at that. The Rockets were in the 11th spot last year. All of a sudden they're in the postseason, okay, because of the identity and culture that Ime Udoka brings to a ball club that's number one. Number two. When we always talk about defensively and what's the most important position in today's game, I always tell you, essay. What? The wing position. The wing position, right. They are loaded defensively at the wing position. From Dylan Brooks to Ty Easton to Amen Thompson, who I, who I believe, by the way might be the best two way player in the next two to three years. Okay? So they're going to.

Stephen A. Smith (10:41)

Damn right they're going to get stops.

Kendrick Perkins (10:44)

And now you have Afro Shangoon, who by the way, last game was busting Draymond Green ass, okay? The last game of the regular season where he had Draymond throwing elbows, he is a problem. So when I look at the championship experience that they have on the team in the veteran locker room, I'm looking at Fred Van Bleak, I'm looking at Jeff Green, I'm saying to myself, they got the right mixture of youth, athleticism and veteran leadership, along with a elite head Coach, they're going to be prepared for the Golden State Warriors. It's going to be a bloodbath. It's going to be a physical ass series. I see it going six or seven games.

Stephen A. Smith (11:24)

Jalen Green, what are we to make of him at this stage point in his career?

Kendrick Perkins (11:28)

I think, I think he's auditioning. Essay. Here's why. We've been hearing the rumors, right? We're hearing the whispers right now, right? Kevin Durant getting together with the Phoenix Suns to figure out what's next for him, for us, you know, finding the team for an off season so that they can trade them. Okay, cool, Right? We had on that list, we hear the mouths on that list and we also hear the Rockets on that list. The one thing that we gotta, the one concern that we all have a, a thing about when it comes down to the Rockets, is who's gonna be there. Close.

Stephen A. Smith (12:05)

That's right.

Kendrick Perkins (12:05)

Jalen Green, it's your time. And say it's his time. Am I lying?

Stephen A. Smith (12:11)

Well, if. Well, you're right. You're right, but only in this sense. Let's, let's play with this for a second. With what they have, the young nucleus that they have. You already got quality veterans in Jeff Green and Fred Van Vliet. Dillon Brooks is like mid level veteran. Like, you know, he ain't some old senior citizen cat. He's got plenty of time left in this league, but he's been around long enough and he's a Rough Rider. And when you think about the culture that they have and what they bring to the table, do you compromise that for Kevin Durant?

Kendrick Perkins (12:43)

I do. I do. But that's why, that's why I said. That's why I said essay. Jalen Green is auditioning, right? Because when you look at the Rockets right now, what do they struggle to do? Make shots they wanted. The worst teams in the league was making three point shots.

Stephen A. Smith (13:01)

And we know that ain't KD's problem. We know that ain't KD.

Kendrick Perkins (13:05)

But what I'm saying is if I'm Jalen Green going into this postseason, I quiet the noise. Oh, no. Okay. I'm gonna show you I could take over a full quarter. I'm gonna show you I could rough a 20.4 quarter, put the ball in my hands and watch me go to work. Y'all talking about, I'm hearing these whispers about Kevin Durant now. I'm a silence that noise right now. And he has an opportunity right in front of him to do it. And so if he does and show that. And all of a sudden the Rockets beat Golden State and they get to the second round, and then all of a sudden we looking at this team and they're in the Western Conference finals, then, yeah, you kill that Kevin Durant conversation. But if you get beaten the first round and it's because you don't have a closer, a guy that could go toe to toe with a Steph Curry in the fourth quarter, when it's a possession by possession game, then, yeah, you might consider trading a Jalen Green or Jabari Smith. Cam Whitmore package it up to bring Kevin Durant in for next season.

Stephen A. Smith (14:04)

Even if Kevin Durant is the kind of person that you might not think is great for your locker room, not because he's bad or cancerous or anything like that, but because he's. He's a different kind of cat and just marches to the beat of his own drum. You don't worry about that with the nucleus and the culture that you're building in Houston.

Kendrick Perkins (14:21)

You know why I don't worry about it? Because the one thing I know, he made Udoka throw hands in the locker room with a player Kevin Durant ain't gonna come pulling that he been pulling in Phoenix with. He made Udoka. He made you don't stand on fitness. And I think, and I know Kevin Durant have enough respect for Ime Udoka that he's not going to bring that BS over there. Yesa. See, that's what I'm saying. He made, you know, is the one that's gonna get Kevin Durant line.

Stephen A. Smith (14:50)

I appreciate him having that kind of respect for a brother. Clearly, it didn't appear to exist for a Budden Hose or to a lesser degree, of, you know, Frank Vogel. I'm not blaming Kevin Durant for that. I don't want to come across as saying that we've heard news that Booker wasn't feeling Budden Hose either. But when you consider that Kevin Durant is there and that, you know what? Steve Nash got let go, you know, when, when he was in Brooklyn. You've got Kenny Atkinson that was let go the minute he arrived. You're looking at a situation in Phoenix where Vogel's gone now, Bullen Hose is gone now. What are we to make of Kevin Durant in your estimation? You're his former teammate, you know him well. What do you make of it?

Kendrick Perkins (15:29)

The same thing. The same thing I said when we were on Countdown a couple months ago, when it was you, Bob Myers, Malika and myself, the ABC Crew. And I said let's not ever put Kevin Durant in the conversation with Steph Curry and LeBron James. It's levels to this and I'm not taking away from Kevin Durant greatness. In my eyes, I believe Kevin Durant is the greatest score of all time. But when it comes down to that separation, when you talk about leadership, when you talk about the professionalism, when you talk about the journey, the, the story, we cannot put him in the conversation with Stephen LeBron. I'm sorry, SA like Stephen LeBron, like, you know, those are different type of animals. Now, Steph Curry, we. We don't know him to be a vocal leader, but damn it, we know him to be a culture setter. Right? And that's leading by example. I don't know. This is what I'm gonna ask you. Think about this for a second. I'm actually. This question. Tell me why.

Stephen A. Smith (16:34)

Okay.

Kendrick Perkins (16:35)

Tell me why. John Morant got the best out of Tyus Jones, who's with the Phoenix Suns. Donovan Mitchell got the best out of Royce O'Neill, who's also on the Phoenix Suns. Chris Paul got the best out of Devin Booker, who's also on the Phoenix Suns. Damien Lillard at one point got the best out of Nurkic, who had problems in Phoenix, who was shipped to the Wizards. Katie, why are you not getting the best out of those guys if other superstars and other players around the league got maximize those same guys? It just don't make sense to me. Yeah, don't make sense.

Stephen A. Smith (17:14)

Don't make sense to me either. Let me move on. Is it a foregone conclusion that you believe the Los Angeles Lakers are going.

Kendrick Perkins (17:22)

To beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in seven games? I'm. I'm not. I'm not. Yeah, I said six, but I'm going seven. I'm not confident. I'm not just saying that with my chest poked out that they're going to just beat the Timber. No, it's. It's going seven games. Anthony Edwards is like that. Anthony Edwards is waiting. And when I think about them, he is essay. And when I think about Minnesota, think about this. The last part of the season, we saw a chemistry and they started to where they started to develop a chemistry. And I'm talking about Anthony Edwards and Julius Randall. Julius Randall was playing, has been playing some phenomenal basketball for them. Okay, now you move over to who are the Minnesota Timberwolves? They're a bunch of dogs defensively.

Lawrence Fishburne (18:11)

It.

Kendrick Perkins (18:11)

So they got a defensive identity that when they're locked in, they're a problem. Okay, you missing. Go ahead.

Stephen A. Smith (18:19)

But my problem is, is, is. Is. Is. Is more. Is. Is as formidable as they are defensively. Luke is the dude that they have no answer for. We know what he's. He's done to the Minnesota Timberwolves now. We know that.

Kendrick Perkins (18:33)

I. I know, but think about this, right? I want you to think about this. It's a lot different now with Luca versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. Here's why. Luca thrives at his best against teams when he have, what a legitimate live threat. See, people. See people didn't understand this last year. The things. The reason that things were so wide open for Kyrie Irving and Luca in that Minnesota Timberwolves in that, in that series last year in the Western Conference finals was because of Daniel Gafford and Derrick Lobby.

Stephen A. Smith (19:07)

Yes.

Kendrick Perkins (19:08)

Right. It just. It's a different type. Like, is Jackson Hayes gonna be that right? Like, I, I just can't see it. Although he's been playing some good basketball, I just don't see it happening. So now all of a sudden it's a, it's a, it's a Luca that's gonna have to solely be set on step back threes. Because that's why he was wondering the live threat so bad on a consistent.

Stephen A. Smith (19:31)

Basis, Houston or Golden State, who would have the better chance versus the Los Angeles Lakers and why it would be.

Kendrick Perkins (19:41)

Golden State, to be honest with you, because we know, you and I both know JJ Redick game playing defensively. And that was one of the things I was concerned about is that he, he showed his hand a bit early in the season when we watched him play Carl Anthony Towns, Jokic, you know, what do the, what do the Lakers do? They pack the paint, take away driving gaps, and they force you to make shots, right? They force you to. They force you to make shots from the three point line. You can't do that against Golden State. You can't do that against Golden State. You're going to get exposed. So now it comes down to, do you have the perimeter defenders to chase around Steph Curry? Do you have a. Do you the perimeter defenders to stop a Draymond Green? And the answer is no. I think Golden State causes matchup problems for the Los Angeles Lakers. I think if the Lakers play the Rockets, that's perfect for the Lakers because the Rockets can't shoot the damn basketball.

Stephen A. Smith (20:43)

Oklahoma City has been the creme de la creme all year long. They're the number one seed. We know what, we know what Shea Gil just is what he brings to the table. And These brothers defend and we got to give them some love and some credit. Who's the best matchup for them? Looking at the west and how things unfold, is there one particular team that you see beating them or at least pushing them to a seven game series?

Kendrick Perkins (21:08)

Oh, I'm scared of that second round. I believe, I believe the Clippers are going to win against the Denver Nuggets and I'm scared of that second round.

Stephen A. Smith (21:18)

So do I. I, I believe that as well. I think the Clippers are going to beat the Nuggets, but I'm not scared of the Clippers against okc. I, I think that's a, I think that actually is a bad matchup for the Clippers. That's my personal opinion.

Kendrick Perkins (21:31)

Tell me why.

Stephen A. Smith (21:32)

Because, because when I look at okc, right, don't get me wrong, the Clip is going to be formidable for anybody. The way Kawhi Lended is looking right now, if he continues to look this way and James Harden's doing what he's doing. I'm not, I'm not knocking that. But you highlighted this best. Zubak has been very formidable, played very well this year and deserves a lot of respect from everybody. Well, Hartstein with Chet Holmgren, I mean that's something formidable to help deal with that. Whereas Golden State is undersized against the Clippers. That's not going to be OKC's problems. And so now you got the ball players with the Clippers against these young lines on a come up in OKC that felt the sting of losing in their semifinals last year to the set to the Dallas Mavericks and Luca, that's why I'm not feeling that way about them. Disco round. I think they'd be better or they'd be even more ready. And I actually think somebody with the experience of a Luke or LeBron would be a greater threat to OKC rather than James Harden along with Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard. Even though I know they some studs, I'm with you.

Kendrick Perkins (22:35)

But here's the thing too, that goes that, that, that we don't highlight enough. When it comes down to the Clippers, they have some damn dogs defensively on that perimeter. Okay. When you, when, when you think about Chris Dunn, when you think about, you know, Derrick Jones Jr. And I'm looking at that and I'm saying that causes some problems because I was, Although Steph Curry somewhat had a good slash, you know he had a good solid game against the Clippers in that loss. Chris Dunn was hell on him. I was watching him Fight over them screens. I was like. And Ty.

Stephen A. Smith (23:14)

Luke.

Kendrick Perkins (23:14)

Tylu actually called me, said he's one of the favorite, one of his favorite players that he's ever coached because he wants to be that defensive topper. I'm not saying that they're going to beat them. I'm just, okay, see, I still got OKC going to the, to the Finals. I'm just saying it scares me and say to what I've been seeing from the Clippers. And we both know Kawhi healthy. He has the chance of being the best player in any series against anybody except for the Boston Celtics.

Stephen A. Smith (23:43)

Anybody that knows me knows I'm gonna always root for the LA teams come postseason time. That's where I want to be in June. That's where I want to be in June. I don't give a damn whether the Lakers or the, or the Clippers. One of them. I'm still in la. I'm straight. I'm straight. Let me transition to the Eastern Conference because I, I saw Orlando beat the Hawks last night. I know Miami and Chicago about to go at each other with play in. I get all of that. Is there anybody we should be thinking about in the east outside of Boston and Cleveland?

Kendrick Perkins (24:12)

Yeah, the Milwaukee Bucks.

Stephen A. Smith (24:14)

Okay.

Kendrick Perkins (24:14)

And, and, and I get it. People are saying no Damian Lillard and, and I get all that. But has anybody watched Giannis, Zach, the Kupo, the last part of the season? Stephen A. He's, he's, he's, he looked like the best player in the league like I was. I was looking up 20 assists, 15 assists, dominating. And he was still getting his 30 and 12, but he was getting triple doubles. And I actually got Milwaukee picked to win that series against the Indiana Pacers solely because how dominant Giannis atetokounmpo has been. And I'm looking at the others. Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr. Bobby Portis, and I'm looking at Brook Lopez, and I'm like, it's not going to be sweet. I know a lot of people leaning towards Indiana because of the day, but Giannis is on a mission. Giannis is. And Giannis is going to lead this team. They're going to beat the Pacers in the first round.

Stephen A. Smith (25:11)

See, I'm not sure about that. Without Dame. If Dame was there, I'll feel you. But without Dame, I just think, I don't know if I trust that the other Cats are going to be there to support Giannis, and that's my concern. And by the way, let's just go against your position for a second Here and work with me on this level. If Giannis loses in the first round, do you think he's gonna ask out of Milwaukee? I don't think so.

Kendrick Perkins (25:40)

I don't think so either. And if he do, he damn. So he damn sure shouldn't want him to go to Miami. You know I'm always watching, right? I've been watching First Take all week. That, that Miami. I, I love what Marcus Moore has been bringing to the table, but I totally disagree with going to Miami. Hell no. That's not the place for him to go. There's other options out there for him. I just don't see him asking. Why would he ask SA1 now asking out from Milwaukee when Milwaukee has done everything that Giannis has asked them to do? Right? Yeah. Him on them to trade Drew Holiday and bring in another superstar caliber player. They went out and they got Damien London, right? Like, they're always making moves. They never. They're never waiting. So when you have an organization that is trying to do everything in their power to satisfy you and you know, Yanis, the city, he basically owns the city. Why would you leave? This is the same thing that I just don't get about the Denver Nuggets. Now they're making changes, but I've been preaching and preaching, when are they gonna surround Jokic with the necessary pieces for him to go and contend? You don't just sit back and wait and say, we're gonna keep running it back with this same group. Like, no, this off season is going to be important for them as well.

Stephen A. Smith (26:59)

Yeah. At least both organizations got a championship to show for because both Giannis and Jokic have delivered the title. So at least they got that to show for it. Look, I got a couple of more questions to ask you, and I'll be right back. I don't want the audience to go anywhere, but I got a couple of questions that I got to ask you before I let you get on out of here. I'll be back with the one and only Kendrick Perkins after I pay these bills. All right, everybody, listen up. With all the big time sports action that's happening each and every day, the Stephen A. Smith show wants to make sure you are taking advantage of it all. That's why we've partnered with Prize Picks. The best place to win cash while watching sports. The app is really easy to use to make a lineup. All you have to do is pick more or less on a few player stats. Choose from any of your favorite players. Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler, and Zach LaVine. All in the same entry. Then sit back and watch. The list is absolutely endless. You can play Prize picks in over 40 states, including California and Texas. Best of all, Prize Picks will give you fifty dollars when you play your first five dollar lineup. Win or lose, you'll get fifty bucks. Just use promo code SAS and download Prize Picks right now. Again, download the app and use code SAs to get $50 instantly after your first $5 lineup prize picks Run your.

Greg Rosenthal (28:09)

Game what's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents, we'll have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Stephen A. Smith (28:43)

Welcome back Stephen A. Smith Show. Big Perk Before I let you get on out of here, my New York Knicks is is kind. It's kind of hard. Big Perk. It's kind of hard because I went from them acquiring Carl Anthony Towns and being ecstatic, right? To being worried because they gave up entirely too damn much. Five first round picks for unprotected for Mikhail Bridges. To me watching Mikhail Bridges complain about the over usage of the starters to Josh Hart arguing during the game with Thibodeau, to going from the New York Knicks and fantasizing about them getting to the conference finals against Boston to almost assuredly knowing they going home at the very latest in the second round because they gotta play Boston and wondering whether or not Tom Thibodeau is going to be here next year. Those are my thoughts about the New York Knicks. What are yours?

Kendrick Perkins (29:41)

Tibbs, you know I love him, won a championship with him. He's my Ubuntu brother for life. But his ass is on the hot seat. He got to get to the conference finals. It don't matter what we believe. If they could beat the Boston Celtics, they need to believe it and they need to get it done. He has to get to the conference finals. They got to the second round last year and like you just talked about, you can't go out and get Mikhail Bridges and give up five first round picks. Go out and get Carl Anthony Towns sign OG an Adobe by the way. Well worth it to a 200 shout out.

Stephen A. Smith (30:17)

No doubt. Worth it. Worth it worth it worth every pitch.

Kendrick Perkins (30:21)

212 and and go out there and. And lose again in the second round. No. It's on record. It's on record. We are the New York Knicks said they are building up to compete with the Celtics. Here you are. You're fully. You're fully loaded. You're healthy. Mitchell Robinson is back. Jaylah Bronson is back. You better get to the conference finals. It don't matter if the world believe you can beat the Boston Celtics because if you don't, it's not the players that are going to be moved essay. It's the coaches.

Stephen A. Smith (30:55)

I wasn't completely open with you. I said I was worried about Boston. Yo bro. I'm worried about them damn Pistons and Pistons can play bigger staff got them brother. I'm worried about K. Cunningham. Even you've been raving about that brother. The I can't dismiss the possibility that Detroit can beat them. I got my Knicks winning but even then I got the Knicks winning in seven perk. Why? Why? Why are you not this word. Why are you not that worried that.

Kendrick Perkins (31:25)

Game, that series not going past 6 SA. Let me tell you. They're gonna listen the new the Pistons successful season. Most surprising team. I'm with you. Bigger staff. Hell of a job. Kate Cunningham. I voted him first team all NBA on my ballot. He got voted first team all NBA on my ballot. We could discuss that another day. It's levels to this when you come to when it comes to the postseason. That scout report gets this much right. They're going to trap K cutting hell. And you know another thing that's been concerning me. I'm watching. I'm watching a happy Detroit team right now. And you know I follow a lot of those guys on social media and stuff like that. They're happy raving about the season as they should be, right they in the postseason. But I seen Malik Beast not knocking nobody what they're doing. He got a commercial that just came out. I just saw Isaiah Stewart Beef Stew drop a rap video. He just dropped. He just dropped the rap video.

Lawrence Fishburne (32:30)

Wow.

Kendrick Perkins (32:31)

No, no, no, no, no, no. This not the time for that. If you're locked in. If you're locked in. You don't have time for that type of shit right now going into the postseason. Your phones need to be off. I'm ignoring family members, all of that. That's why I got the Knicks. Just because the experience and big body Bronson is going to be the best player in that series.

Stephen A. Smith (32:55)

Last question for you. You've been raving About Oklahoma City. All year long, I've heard you say everything about them but one thing and one thing only. That they're gonna win the title. That they're gonna win the title. You ain't never said that because of them damn Boston Celtics. Now we hearing that Jalen Brown taking shots to the knees. We don't know how much health, how. How healthy he's going to be. I'm talking about. I don't know if it's cortisone child, whatever the hell it is, but I'm just saying he's getting knee treatment per se. You know, they are concerned about him being 100 for this postseason. You still feeling as strongly as you did about the Boston Celtics?

Kendrick Perkins (33:34)

You damn right I am. You damn right I am. They. I mean, look, every single player on their team has leveled up another notch, and I'm not even Jason Tatum. Right. I'm not even Jason Tatum. I. I think. Right. This is his moment. I think he's. He's going out for blood. Right. I think whether people agree with it or not, he feels disrespected. Everything that happened with him in the off season. Right. Cool. But Peyton Pritchard, Luke Cornett, Sam Houser, old man Al Horford, SA is. Too many times I'm looking up and I see Al Horford didn't have 25 points. He's a year younger than me. He's a year younger than me. So then I'm looking at Christopher Zingis. Did you see the last game against the New York Knicks that they played when they went to overtime?

Stephen A. Smith (34:28)

Yes, I did. Yes, I did.

Kendrick Perkins (34:30)

How did Cristoph Pozingas look?

Stephen A. Smith (34:33)

Don't remind me. Pulling up.

Kendrick Perkins (34:35)

Okay? I. I hate to bring up old stuff. The reason I brought him up, and I'm gonna end on this. You remember Jason Tatum was on record and they asked them, they asked him last year about, like, him and Crystal Porzingis. Who would he compare? Like those. Their comparison as a duo. And he said, who? Kobe and Paul Gasol. So although Jay and I brought that up because although Jalen Brown may be battling a little, you know, a little injury, a little pain in his knee, Crystal Brzingis still could elevate and be that second option, which I believe he can be for the Boston Celtics, which makes them still dangerous and still the favorite of my eyes.

Stephen A. Smith (35:16)

Got you. You're not giving Cleveland any chance. Is Cleveland been the best record in the Eastern Conference all year long? No chance.

Kendrick Perkins (35:23)

I'm giving them a chance to make it to the conference finals. And say, I just, I'm what I've been leaning on. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland got to show me defensively. They got to show me because they're going to get picked on. And just like Steph Curry, it took Steph Curry. Think about this. And think about this. It took Steph Curry, his to his fourth championship for him actually to buckle down and defend, like, put on muscle. And when they had that series against the Celtics, they were trying to exploit stuff. They were trying to post up Al Horford on them. Steph Curry down there holding his damn ground, not giving up, nothing, getting stops. And I was like, oh, yeah, he won it. I don't know if Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland got that in them. And you're gonna have to have that in you because every single person on the Boston Celtics in the starting five and then the six, including Al Horford, could do what essay could take your ass to that low block.

Stephen A. Smith (36:25)

No doubt. Big Perk. Love you. Appreciate you, bro. A few hours, my man. FNBA countdown, man.

Kendrick Perkins (36:30)

We'll talk later, okay? Later, brother.

Stephen A. Smith (36:33)

No doubt. One and only Big perk. Kendrick Perkins. Man, I love that brother. So your true, true friend and I love working with him. Brother smart as hell, knows his basketball. Like he said, he talks slow, but he's smart as hell. It is the truth. That's the best thing he's ever said about himself. Absolute, absolutely true. Can't wait to start covering these playoffs with that brother. Make no mistake about an NBA countdown. Me and my man, Big Perk, together, we love it. We absolutely love it.

Greg Rosenthal (37:03)

What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday. Keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Stephen A. Smith (37:35)

My next guest is a six time Emmy award winning actor known for memorial roles and the films like what's Love Got to Do with It, The Matrix, remember ABC's Blackish? The man's been here before. He's one of the greatest actors in American history as far as I'm concerned, and it is an honor and a privilege to have him back. The one and only Lawrence Fishburne is On the show right now. What's going on? Big time. How are you, man? How's everything?

Lawrence Fishburne (38:03)

Stephen? What's happening, baby?

Stephen A. Smith (38:06)

Listen, I can't wait to talk to you. I can't wait to talk to you about Sneaks in a second. But, I mean, I'm just looking at you. You've been doing a lot of work, man. You're supposed to be climbing up then a. You supposed to be. You supposed to be inching towards retirement. I mean, you working more than most people, Lawrence. I mean, what's going on, man? What's up?

Lawrence Fishburne (38:23)

Hey, somebody got to pay for the retirement, baby.

Stephen A. Smith (38:28)

Got bills to pay, right? You got the bills to pay.

Lawrence Fishburne (38:30)

Retirement is expensive.

Stephen A. Smith (38:33)

That's right. I. I definitely get you. I understand that. Loud and clear. Let's get to your new project. All right. You know the Sneaks? It's an animated sports comedy you are producing. What's it all about? Talk to me about it.

Lawrence Fishburne (38:47)

Sneaks is an animated thing that we did with a lot of really talented people. Martin Lawrence, Anthony Mackie. And it's about a pair of sneakers. And the sneakers come alive and talk. It's the journey of a pair of sneakers, a 24, that are brother and sister, and they get separated. They've been raffled off at a gala at the Guggenheim in New York. And a young kid wins them and the sneakers get separated and a lot of chaos ensues. But it's a really funny buddy movie about these two sneakers, an old head, an old school sneaker and a brand new sneaker who's like the hotness that everybody wants. And an odyssey of them trying to get back to each other throughout New York City. It's great.

Stephen A. Smith (39:36)

Well, well, listen, let me remind somebody named. You gave. You just gave a couple of Martin Lawrence, you know, Anthony Mackie, Macy Gray's in there, Chloe Bailey's there, Ella May is there, Cuevo, Rico Rodriguez, even the one and only CP3. CP3, Chris Paul. That was a great pickup, no question. Yeah, no doubt.

Lawrence Fishburne (39:55)

Yeah. Well, it's great.

Stephen A. Smith (39:56)

So what, was this your idea? Was this your idea or did somebody.

Lawrence Fishburne (39:59)

No, no, but I'm one of the producers. I was. I was brought on board. My. My partner and I, Helen Sugland at Cinema Gypsy, she brought the piece to me and. And she really believed in it. And I was like, yeah, this is really kind of interesting. We haven't seen this before. Like, we've seen talking airplanes and talking cars, but we ain't seen talking Sneaks.

Stephen A. Smith (40:21)

I've heard a lot of things about I've heard a lot about you throughout the years, but the one thing I've never heard is that you were a big sports fan. So I'm wondering, what was it about this particular idea that appealed to you so much? Because I know that you're forward thinking and you're a visionary. What, what was it about this idea that appealed to you so much?

Lawrence Fishburne (40:39)

Although I'm not a sports fan, I, I grew up in New York, you know, in the 60s and the 70s, and I'm not even a sneaker head, but I get it. Like I get sneaker culture, even as somebody who, who doesn't really participate in it in that way. I used to have friends who would see me and they, when I, when they would see me wearing sneakers, they'd be supporting surprised, because for a long time I just didn't wear them. And it wasn't like a conscious choice. But there is something about sneaker culture that I do understand and that I do connect with. I'm always, I've always been a big animation fan, so anything animated always has my interest.

Stephen A. Smith (41:21)

And why have you been a big animated animation fan? I am one too, but I'd like to know, what is it about it that appeals to you? Somebody is star studded as you are, as accomplished as you are, what is it about animation that does it for you?

Lawrence Fishburne (41:34)

The thing about animation is growing up listening to. There's one actor in particular who's probably one of the greatest voice actors of all time, and that was the late, great Metal Blank. You know, Mel Blanc voiced Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck and Foghorn Leghorn and Porky Pig and Martin the Martian and I can keep going. So just as an actor, he had a kind of skill and versatility that I always aspired to, but also, you know, just as a, as, as an actor, being able to create characters with your voice and work with, you know, illustrations, work with artists, renderings of characters, that's just, that's just fun for me.

Stephen A. Smith (42:27)

Lawrence, as you reflect on your career and the illustrious career that you've had, if you had to really, really sit down and think about anything that you wish you would have done, something that might be on your bucket list, something that you missed out on, I can't imagine that you haven't done because it seems like you've done every damn thing. But is there something that you haven't done in your career that you wish you had done? Project, anything like that?

Lawrence Fishburne (42:54)

There's more than one thing on my career that I wish that I have done. That I haven't done, but I try not to dwell on things that I haven't done. You know, I don't think that's a smart thing to do. I think it's much healthier to look forward and try to, you know, get. Get to do some of those things or do a version of those things, you know, perhaps you missed.

Stephen A. Smith (43:17)

That's where I'm going. I. Sorry I asked the question wrong, because I'm thinking something that you haven't done that you still in line to do, like it ain't finished, like you just haven't done it yet, but you really want to do.

Lawrence Fishburne (43:27)

There's. There's a lot of stuff I haven't done that I, you know, that I would like to do, that I will get to do. And. And I think it's. It's also very important for me to, you know, do the work that I need to do before I start talking about it. You know, someone. I want to manifest something. I got to get into the visualization of it, you know.

Stephen A. Smith (43:50)

Gotcha.

Lawrence Fishburne (43:51)

And this isn't the platform for that. This isn't the space for that.

Stephen A. Smith (43:54)

Got you.

Lawrence Fishburne (43:55)

You know.

Stephen A. Smith (43:57)

Totally understand. Totally understand. I want to get into something else.

Lawrence Fishburne (44:00)

But, too, because, yes, there's things that I want to do that I hope to do, that I envision myself doing and I'm working towards doing.

Stephen A. Smith (44:07)

Yes, totally understand. I want to get into a new project, you know, one of your new projects. Actually, it's not a new project. I wanted to discuss your recent appearance on the PBS show, because I was. I was. I was reading something about that finding your roots hosted by Louis Henry Louis Gates. And. And I understand it was very, very revealing as it pertained to you. You like talking about that for a second. Tell me.

Lawrence Fishburne (44:31)

Sure.

Stephen A. Smith (44:32)

What that was about for you and what that experience was like for you, Please.

Lawrence Fishburne (44:34)

Yeah, go ahead.

Stephen A. Smith (44:35)

What was that about? What happened?

Kendrick Perkins (44:37)

It was a huge gift.

Lawrence Fishburne (44:38)

I mean, I basically was, you know, I got enough information vis a vis DNA to actually find out who my biological father was. As it turns out, Mr. Fishburne was not my biological father, although he was my dad. And he was right wonderful dad. You know, he showed up for me in ways that were important, and he gave me a great name, Mr. Fishburne. And I'm grateful to. To him and his memory. But at the same time, I just discovered that my biological father was a gentleman named William Siegel Bohannon, who was born and raised in the city of Chicago. And he passed away, sadly in 2017, before I was able to get to meet him. But, yeah, it was a huge gift because I. I have. I have a whole new family. I have siblings I did not know I had, and other people in. In my lineage that I did not know about. So.

Stephen A. Smith (45:41)

And what's that. And what's that like when, you know, you. You walk up to people and they come up to you and. And suddenly they're family, you know?

Lawrence Fishburne (45:50)

Yeah, well, you know, they're your.

Stephen A. Smith (45:51)

I mean. I mean, what. What. What is that like?

Lawrence Fishburne (45:54)

Listen, Stephen, the reality of it, in terms of, you know, our culture and our history as. As people of color in this country. This is not new stuff. Yeah, this is not new. You know, that's true. The history of our families and our family history is as complicated as this country. So it's not new. Yeah, it's just something that happened to me, and I'm not the first, won't be the last, and I'm just grateful that I got a chance, you know, at. Even at this, you know, moment in my life, you know, shall we call it the third act of my life or whatever it is, to meet people who are related to me and. And who love and embrace me just based on that alone. It's beautiful.

Stephen A. Smith (46:47)

I feel you. I just. I just think about. I think about how beautiful that is in the way that you describe, and it almost like, gives you a new police on life. That's how I would take it anyway, in a very, very positive way. Of course. That's how I look at it. And no question about it. So I'm happy for you about it. Let me get back to the business of you from. From the standpoint of this spy thriller, it's already out, called the Amateur, starring alongside Rami Malik. Yeah, talk about the. The Amateur. Talk about that film for a second and what your role in that is.

Lawrence Fishburne (47:13)

Yeah, so it's me and Rami Malik. Rami Malik plays a CIA analyst whose wife gets killed in a hostage type situation. He wants to, like, seek vengeance. He goes to the people at the CIA and says, you got to train me for being a field operative. So they have me as a colonel who comes in to train him, and I immediately am struck by how inept I think he will be at field operations. It's a wonderful little movie that I did with Rami, who I adore. He's so talented. He's. He's so interesting and so smart, and he's one of the producers. And we. We think the. The movies, you know, we think the movie's great and a Lot of people seem to think the same thing, so I got you.

Stephen A. Smith (47:59)

Well, listen, I gotta let you go. I gotta run myself. I can't thank you enough for giving me some time to talk to. It's always wonderful to talk to you. You know, I'm a. I'm a huge fan, as I have been for decades with your wonderful work, man. It's an honor and a privilege. Privilege to talk to you. I really.

Lawrence Fishburne (48:14)

I'm coming to New York soon to do something, and I want you to come see me. I'll let you know about it.

Stephen A. Smith (48:18)

Please let me know about it.

Lawrence Fishburne (48:20)

Absolutely, brother.

Stephen A. Smith (48:21)

You take it easy, all right? Lawrence Fishburne, my man. God bless. God bless. Take care. Best my thanks to the great Lawrence Fishburne. Snakes is in theaters nationwide April 18th. And the amateur is out now, as you just heard us say. So be sure to check out both of them, please, as Lawrence Fishburne. Why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you? I ain't even bringing mission impossible 3. Cause that brother was good in that movie. Great in that movie. You know, I've always watched Lawrence Fishburne movies. I'm just letting y'all know I ain't faking the funk. That brother's real. He's something special.

Greg Rosenthal (48:57)

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to sing that. We're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.