The Phoenix Suns have been struggling, currently in the midst of a slump and unable to find a way to bounce back.
With a 31–37 record, the Suns are ranked 11th in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games behind a play-in spot. They’ve dropped three of their last four games, and as playoff hopes continue to fade, Kendrick Perkins has delivered a blunt critique of the team’s performance.
On NBA Today, Perkins expressed his belief that key players like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal have given up on head coach Mike Budenholzer.
“This is a disaster. A team that has quit on their coach. If I were Mike Budenholzer, honestly, there would be no more rankings in the locker room. No more franchise players. I’d be playing the guys who are willing to compete for me, and if that means less minutes for Durant, Booker, and Beal, then so be it,” Perkins stated.
Reflecting on his own 14-year career, Perkins emphasized that he’s never been part of an organization that quit on its coach. “This is embarrassing—not just for the Phoenix organization, but for the entire NBA,” he added.
Perkins didn’t hold back in his criticism of the team’s effort, calling the Suns’ current state an embarrassment to the league. Despite entering February with a 25–22 record, they’ve only won six of their last 21 games. As they continue to fall behind in the play-in race, Perkins pointed the finger at stars like Durant and Booker for not showing enough fight.
‘SNL’ Hilariously Parodies NBA Analyst Kendrick Perkins on Weekend Update
By Kristen Wong | Mar 9, 2025
NBA talk has been dominating headlines this season, fueled by the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade and the heated exchange between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith, among other drama.
This past weekend, Saturday Night Live joined in the fun, with Kenan Thompson delivering a spot-on impersonation of ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins. From his beard and attire to his voice, Thompson nailed every aspect of Perkins in a comedic sketch.
During the Weekend Update segment, “Perkins” began by explaining why the Dallas Mavericks traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Folks inside know Luka Dookie is hurt,” Thompson’s Perkins said. “I’m hearing rumors he got a small tear in his interior crustaceous uterus. Now, I’m not a doctor, but by my estimations, I think he gon’ be dead by April.”
Perkins continued by addressing Stephen A. Smith’s new massive nine-figure contract before making some questionable and hilarious remarks about LeBron James.
“LeBron is 71 years old, has one arm, twelve kids—one of them is black—and works undercover as a French superspy. The name is LeBron, James LeBron,” he quipped.
New Steeler DK Metcalf Reflects on His First Meeting with Mike Tomlin at NFL Combine
By Brigid Kennedy | Mar 15, 2025
DK Metcalf may have just joined the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, but his connection with head coach Mike Tomlin dates back to the early days of his NFL journey.
In an interview with Steelers reporter Missi Matthews, Metcalf reminisced about meeting Tomlin at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, where the seasoned coach was already praising Metcalf’s potential.
Metcalf explained that the Steelers’ rich history played a major role in his decision to join Pittsburgh, before recalling his memorable interaction with Tomlin.
“Coach Tomlin and I had a great conversation even back at the combine,” Metcalf shared. “I remember it clearly—he spoke highly of me as a player and as a person. The Steelers organization is historic, and I think there’s no better division than the AFC North.”
When Matthews asked what stood out most about the meeting, Metcalf said, “What stuck with me was how Coach Tomlin complimented my playing style, even when I was still in college. After the combine, whether before or after games, he would always take the time to acknowledge my play. For an opposing coach to do that, to go out of his way like that—it really meant a lot.”
Metcalf also addressed an old mic’d-up video of Tomlin, which has resurfaced recently, where the coach complimented Metcalf on his playing style. “It just showed me that he truly knows who I am, both as a person and as a player. I don’t need to sell myself; he watches the film and recognizes talent,” Metcalf said. “To be acknowledged like that by a coach of his caliber really meant the world to me.”
After spending his entire career with the Seattle Seahawks, Metcalf requested a trade in early March, and his new contract with Pittsburgh is worth $150 million over five years.
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