For years now, OKC Thunder fans (and others with a rudimentary understanding of NBA basketball) have screamed at head coach Scott Brooks to glue veteran center Kendrick Perkins to the bench.
Going into his 12th NBA season, and it being a contract year, Perkins admits that he’s nervous about his role and what the future may hold.
As for continuing to be a starter, Perkins says he just wants to be on the court during money time (Brooks wouldn’t reveal if second-year big man Steven Adams would join the starting lineup.)
Per The Oklahoman:
“Ain’t gonna lie, I’m nervous,” Perkins admitted. “I don’t know what it’s gonna be, what the playing time gonna be, whether I’m starting or whether I’m coming off the bench.”
“To me, it really don’t even matter,” Perkins said of the impending decision. “I just want an opportunity to play, that’s it. Since I’ve been here, the only thing I’ve been trying to embrace on the whole organization and the young guys is just how to win. Since I’ve been here, that’s all I’ve been doing.”
“Like I told y’all at Media Day, I started all the games last year that I played in and didn’t play in nearly enough of the fourth quarters that I wanted to play in,” he said. “So that really was my goal coming into this year. I wanted to give Coach a reason he should have me in in the fourth. I started last year and a lot of games I was unhappy because I didn’t play in the fourth quarter, probably because I didn’t deserve it. So I want to give him a reason to have me out there in the fourth.”
