Big Perk’s list of players with the most to prove in playoffs 📋 | NBA Today

Kendrick Perkins reveals his list of the top five players with the most to prove in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Then on NBA Today, Zach Lowe joins Malika Andrews, Michael Wilbon and Perk to break down the biggest matchups in the Phoenix Suns vs. Minnesota Timberwolves series and Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks series.
✔️Subscribe to ESPN+ espnplus.com/youtube
✔️ Get the ESPN App: www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔️Subscribe to ESPN on KZbin: es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoKZbin
✔️ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on KZbin: bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔️ Watch ESPN on KZbin TV: es.pn/KZbinTV

[@deaniart]

Perk is right. Jayson Tatum has zero excuses to not show up in this postseason. Celtics have a healthy team, the first seed and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. And if they play the Heat, it will be without Jimmy Buckets.

[@nathanosaka3977]

Everything is literally falling into place for bro

[@rafaelisslaam1894]

Boston will go 16-2 this postseason, Denver will take 2 games from them in the finals but thats about it. JT fmvp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Jdcjr1991]

@@rafaelisslaam1894I don’t believe in them enough

[@DonGivani]

Yeah but wrong about Jalen Brunson

[@bowtieguy377]

I agree. Boston ownership and Brad Stevens have put together the best team possible and made tough decisions and changes in the off season to get even better. Now is the time.

[@mookgworldforeva7081]

Oh that’s why you fired up about 420 huh 😂

[@trock5779]

Theses players get out the league n be showing em true colorrs😂😂

[@RobertTrey-ov1lz]

On The Lowe is crazzzy 😂

[@mrsmoove5715]

Jayson Tatum we know you good but go at every game like your life depends on it, be a savage 😎

[@upp3rm00n5]

Kendrick is GOATED 🐐

[@rafaelisslaam1894]

ya, I dont understand why people be hating on him.

[@__senjutsu]

​@rafaelisslaam1894 it's crazy, cause all season he was telling folks don't but into GSW. Bro looks like nostradamus this week. Where are the GSW fans now?

[@rafaelisslaam1894]

@@__senjutsu they in Cancun

[@jalves6494]

People just constantly brush off Embiid never getting by the second round

[@kimking5928]

Cause he’s had a history of repeating the same test.

[@IBlackSanta]

Tbf hes always hurt and has had teammates who've only caused drama and not show up playoff time. Its just the reality of the nba. Unfortunate situations

[@timothyherbert8106]

Nah Embiid has had horrible playoff play don't just put that on situations. Funny how he's good in the regular season when he gets call but come playoff time disappears

[@paraperera7786]

@@IBlackSanta whos caused drama?

[@19jacob95]

@@timothyherbert8106people wanna say he had bad teammates but they weren’t bad in the regular season tho. To me take off Jalen Braunson and put Embiid there! People always wanna throw shade at Jokic before he won a chip for not making a deep playoff run let’s keep the same energy for Embiid and be honest he’s a great regular season guy but horrible playoff player

[@SquidysTents]

Yeah Wilbon, you def the only one who has Ant Edwards that high on their MVP ballot 😂

[@TheBlackSands]

That list is almost flawless but it is missing luka doncik because he is celebrated by his fanclub for doing nothing other then scoring .

[@Kirbystare1992]

I agree

[@1234jokerboy]

He's disrespected again by not even expecting him to win anything 😂😂😂

[@19jacob95]

Embiid should be there he’s only celebrated for what he can do in the reglaje season and than playoffs don’t show up and throws his team under the bus and takes no accountability for his screw ups

[@bferg99]

You fold like clean sheets 😂😂😂 that sent me

[@thomascrowniii1693]

Ant over SGA on Wilbon's MVP ballot is wild.

[@oshanewilliams6814]

They need to revoke media from voting these things man

[@kohta20]

If you have SGA over LUKA your vote needs to be taken away also! Mavericks were one of the most injured teams all year. OKC was the healthiest team this year!

[@StewieStan2K]

Over Luka too

[@thomascrowniii1693]

@kohta20 OKC is the youngest team in the league and they have the number one seed in the toughest conference in basketball. If you think Luka, who is playing with Kyrie, had a harder job being the 5th seed, then you should never be able to vote.

[@kohta20]

since his teammates missed over 200 games Id say so! @@thomascrowniii1693

[@nicktsoycalas3767]

Big Perk loves the smoke haha

[@AnonymousUser-ss2qr]

stop right now or else

[@zap7759]

FREEZE

[@freedsoul5290]

@0:33 BAM! Almost knocked Malika out cold! 😂🥶

[@1234jokerboy]

Adebayo

[@reembright4231]

I don’t agree with Brunson , I knew he was nice since the Villanova days but he def been better than we expected . I’d say pg or kd etc

[@DonGivani]

Same here, and his team is not fully full court strength!!!!

[@anthonythurman78]

Thank you!

[@19jacob95]

I agree I would take him off and put Embiid on there instead he’s 30 a league MVP and never been to a conference finals in his career and he’s the only player to have WON MVP and never make the conference finals says a lot bout you when you can’t do that

[@reembright4231]

@@19jacob95 I agree

[@nikhiltrivedi8126]

@@19jacob95he’s injured, that’s probably why they didn’t put him on there

[@tonydouglas5392]

No kd but having beal is crazy

[@officialroseworld1997]

I thought the same thing. Brunson really doesn’t deserve to be on the list at all. Nobody expects Beal to be anything more than he’s been. KD & possibly AD should have been on this list.

[@Kirbystare1992]

Kd the most protected star in history lol

[@officialroseworld1997]

@@Kirbystare1992 he got his fair share of criticism for the GS move. But since then it’s been excuse after excuse.

[@Kirbystare1992]

@@officialroseworld1997 barely even that because everybody gave him the pass of just saying it was westbrooks fault.

[@officialroseworld1997]

@@Kirbystare1992 a lot of ppl were and some were even acting like GS validated KD and made him the best in the game. It was a crazy time and KD does get a lot of passes. In OKC it was always blame Westbrook. In Brooklyn it was kyrie, then Hardens fault. I’m not sure what the next excuse is going to be but I don’t expect the suns to go far

[@MultipleMike-tl2ty]

I am not a fan of Perkins, but JT has something to to prove this post season. Win the chip JT.

[@Because_Truth_Matters]

Dame should be there even though he said RING CULTURE BOTHERS HIM🤣🤣. EMBIID, KD, TATUM, and THE FLIPPERS. These dudes HAVE TO be there.

[@cedricwhyte9381]

KD is a champion and finals MVP

[@meechza]

perk tryna get that next espn max contract🔥🔥

[@mubeenabdullah2227]

I'd change Brunson for AD ... He has to finally battle Jokic and beat Dencer ... as well as being the main man now taking Lebron's torch and carry them across the line !

[@bohanna20]

I gotta nothin but luv from five heartbeats is crazy😂😂 yall dont know bout that

[@AliFrankTheTank]

Clippers Roster, Tatum/Brown, DAME!, D Mitch and Embiid …….

[@Mateo.7777]

I'm 🔥 up for 420 too!

[@algieromero5070]

101% I agree to perks this time!

[@L2J3L]

I love KP so much lmao

[@davidkean6985]

Malika-Very creative outfit!

[@Valorant_Dem0n97]

No KD is crazy

[@CaesarChristopher]

These guys have no rings KD got fmvps with him

[@Valorant_Dem0n97]

@@CaesarChristopher He has fmvps after joining a team that went 73-9 the year before and he was up 3-1 against them. He needs to prove he can carry a team

[@AshleyMichaud]

Brown > Tatum 🔥🏀✨

[@emmanmeansgreat1]

Baaammmmm!!!!

[@belroyohannes3212]

Malika getting ready to press charges on perk for screaming BAM!

[@athrinean]

The Glass on my Smartphone Screen is more durable than Joel Embiid

[@soolthegreat1581]

Big Perk still on TV 😂😂😂

[@Zinx160]

He really said Harden folds like clean sheets 😂

[@DubCmusicTV]

Year after year with a top 5 squad and only once to finals

[@nohoneynomoney7072]

No problem As perk lobbying for the whole year, tatum is the clear cut mvp of the season and he always shows up

[@asburycollins7328]

Beal/Lilard/Harden/Brunson/Tatum. Donovan can stay/trade (his options)

[@Austin-316]

Tatum is doing just fine Big Perk... How about Jaylen Brown step up... Highest paid player in the league throwing up dub games.

[@Thunderbolt210]

Jayson Tatum HAS NO EXCUSES. His team is built for this. Time to prove it

[@romanewilliams9563]

Perk will say no excuses but then also give the reasons they will never win.

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

CRAZY that he's only 19 year old 😂🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂🤣🤣🤣😂🤣😂😂🤣🤣😂😂😂

[@mdsoulsounds]

BAM! Dillard will fold like a shirt! Love these two, Malika, like Molly, has fun doing what she's doing. Oh, upset alert L.A.!

[@iaskquestions]

based on his history in the playoffs I would switch harden with Brunson because Brunson to me has proven himself yes it was the regular season but look where he led the team to where they are now but in terms of playoffs I think harden has more to prove

[@asburycollins7328]

Mitchell max ? Short or long-term ? Instant Upgrade...

[@ashamsthomas2490]

Kendrick Perkins talking about IQ?! 😂😂😂

[@autoMATTic_]

They paired Malika with Perk to undo all the black man slander she’s made her rise off of and sadly it’s working… I ALMOST started fw her with the “BAM” adlibs

[@fslizzle6010]

He had 0 excuses in 22 but we know how that turned out #nightnight

[@fk4410]

Tatum Luka Embiid Dame Harden (truth is all 4 stars)

[@AnonymousUser-ss2qr]

lol Lakers in 5

[@Artressa]

Girl. That's a nice suit!

[@Julio-us2fo]

im firing up right nowwww bub

[@asburycollins7328]

Donovan Mitchell Has the highest ceilings

[@jrod132]

1. Tatum 2. Edwards 3. Dame 4. Harden 5. Beal. The Suns will beat the T-Wolves in 6 and the Knicks are beating the 76ers in 6 Embiid chokes in the playoffs. Wilbon having Edwards second in his MVP is dumb

[@raminabdulla4949]

How is KD not up there

[@asburycollins7328]

Mitchell 😢😢 East Coast or West Coast

[@Knicks518]

Go Brunson. Prove em wrong!!!

[@migievlogs2411]

Ant reminds me of a young TMAC only stronger...

[@kennystar9075]

Edwards second on Wilbon's MVP ballot is just asinine.

[@seanisabel]

Yet people say JT isn't a top 5 player. Go Celtics!!

[@grump856]

Embiid gone cook them Centers 😅

[@19jacob95]

On what game cause seems like he only does that in the regular season 😂

[@mannedi8665]

I won't include players past their prime like Harden. One player should be in there is Booker not Brunson. Lost in the Finals then lost to Dallas. He has a great team no excuses.

[@arjunbabha1651]

How is luka not on this list? He has a LOT to prove after not making the playoffs last year.. he has kyrie and that should be enough to win it all if luka is that guy

[@Big7wardnola]

The 89 version of MJ...Perk boy you need to stop it

[@DORAEMON-bw8jk]

The Celtics will choke again even though they have the best overall record in the league.

[@lyndaaugustin6326]

Heat in 5. 😂 #GoHeat

[@adriankendrick4281]

😂 they won't even beat the Bulls tonight

[@lyndaaugustin6326]

@@adriankendrick4281 You must be a scared Celtics fan. Smh 🤣 see you on Sunday afternoon after Heat wins game 1 in Boston. Heat in 5. #GoHeat

[@intelligentman7195]

​@@lyndaaugustin6326 no one fears heat last you were lucky to get out the east Celtics in 5

[@legendarynoobz]

​@@lyndaaugustin6326i'mma just leave a comment so that I can clown on you once the celtics win the series 😂🤣

[@skess6747]

I don’t know what PERK OS SAYING EVER…

[@4ktkaram395]

Michael Wilbon need his voting rights revoked for saying Anthony Edwards was second on his ballot for MVP. AE5 Soley becoming the most overrated player in the league.

[@unlitdragon6931]

Bradley Beal over Dame is crazy. As a Dame fan, He should be way higher

[@AnonymousUser-ss2qr]

no yawnis

[@unlitdragon6931]

@@AnonymousUser-ss2qr Giannis does definetly impact the list but I still feel like Dame should be a little higher especially with their pieces

[@xavierb9061]

@@unlitdragon6931 thats dumb sit out

[@unlitdragon6931]

@@xavierb9061 Compelling argument. How's that dumb?

[@johnerickgaleng6646]

Perk’s trying to be Stephen A. Lol

[@manxpol21]

i dis agree,,,it should be PG....he was the top scorer in the absence of KL....

[@Aloneda3rd]

James Harden folding in the playoffs is the biggest myth he literally was apart of the only team to almost beat Durant/Curry Warriors in a seven game 7 series it’s like they really wanted Harden to beat the Warriors by himself no help which is something Lebron couldn’t do plus Harden is past his prime he is not the best player on the Clippers it’s Kawhi PG then Harden these young dudes in the West are the only people should be on this list Shai Luka Antman Beal Booker Karl Anthony towns Fox has way more to prove than a older Harden

[@kharlxy002]

Beal over KD? really??

[@feyidawodu3920]

I don’t know why they keep putting harden on these lists. When a person shows you who they are believe them and harden just ain’t that guy in the playoffs he always gonna go missing cause he always thinking about the strip club and lil baby

[@TAPATIOPLEASE]

Malinka andrews is the finest woman ever idc what anyone says

[@Musicfan81]

De'Aaron fox should be here he’s been in the league for 7 years and hasn’t had any playoff success.

[@cashmircmb]

Brunson shouldn't be on this list

[@user-hi2un5rs1b]

That loud huh

[@DonGivani]

Didn't Perk know NY is not healthy . They miss Randall.. Jalen Brunson has nothing to prove. He may lose the first round and nothings wrong

[@Ysoserious1]

Do we really know what Booker is gonna bring tho

[@tajonmitchel1712]

I mean he had multiple 40 point playoff games last year but ok

[@markreyna4209]

Frozen yogurt is good.

[@BladeMasterz916]

REPEAT: Tatum is NOT that guy. He is very good, but ain't that guy. If Tatum ever wins a Championship, someone else would be MVP.

[@nathanosaka3977]

I’ve literally been saying this for the past 4 yrs imo if the Celtics win them JB gonna be the Fmvp

[@BTNInvestments]

He doesn't need to be that guy for them to win... and if they do win, he would be the mvp. Who else you picking? Brown? Get real.

[@mannyparganaos5889]

​@@nathanosaka3977 hahahahaahah brown, yea sure hahahahahahahahaah celtics aint winning. I assure it

[@MoneyMakerAviLev]

How did he foget Embid?

[@AnonymousUser-ss2qr]

who?

[@ydfash23]

no expectations he’s injurd

[@Aneeshtherave]

He would have something to prove if he didn’t just come back from knee surgery. What expectations do u have for that.

[@LPjunemark]

He is a bust on playoffs. No expectations from him

[@19jacob95]

@@ydfash23I disagree because if it were Jokic or anyone else they would be on this list and Embiid he’s always injured in the playoffs so you know he not gonna be 100% so you deal with it and and play on! Say that Embiid wins a chip than everyone gonna say he won the chip and he was injured let’s do it not ways? He has something to prove as he’s the only player to win MVP and never been to the conference finals. You could say he’s had bad teammates but those same bad teammates were the ones that helped him get a 1,2 and 3 seed and they still lost, there is no excuses for him anymore that’s him he’s hurt when playoffs comes how do you manage that and get over it? If teams can get over it with there key guys out Philly can too thag always have the guys and always saying we believe or we know this guy can get us to where we wanna be! Embiid has the most to prove to me behind JT

[@floydfair5791]

Sixers can win if Nick Nurse out Coaches Thibbs 🏀

[@Bars11_]

Bring it home JT and silence all these noise over the years.

[@theMANinc1]

Issa no for Beal. Dame should be #1.. Harden already proved he is ring chasing. Brunson was a no-show in Dallas. Tatum doesn't have the mental fortitude to being "the man."

[@414solo_jay9]

if you think jt not one ur delusional dame second at best

[@Because_Truth_Matters]

1. KD, he can't win without his daddy in Steph 😎 2. James Harden, he called Daryl Morey a liar🤣🤣 3. Damian Lillard even though he said Ring Culture BOTHERS HIM 🤣🤣. He literally said Ring Culture BOTHERS HIM 🤔 4. Embiid, always making injury excuses. Excuses for this dude are out of hand. 5. Tatum, he just sucks, yall. He needs a bunch of all-stars just to win a game.

[@nathanosaka3977]

I’m gonna give ‘em if a slight because he just came off a strecher

[@najeemodest3774]

I swear they need of get rid of youtube comments

[@tbull4250]

If you don't read em it doesn't exist lol and you have the power to not comment​@@najeemodest3774

[@Aneeshtherave]

Injury excuses?? Stop acting like Embiid fakes his injuries. The dude suffers injuries in the playoffs that usually makes anyone miss the rest of the playoffs but Embiid fights through the pain because his team needs him. Only have expectations if Embiid is fully healthy.

[@TheAviationBros3]

Here we go again… Perk always switching up so quick and hating on the Celtics smh 🤣

[@donandremilwood3959]

If Celtics lose to the Heat, i’m no longer a Celtic Fan!!!!!!!!

[@fk4410]

KAT wont dominate KD lol

[@ronnierizek1834]

Feel like Perk tries too hard to be Stephen A

[@jerichog2166]

Lol

[@Der_Goldjunge]

You have Edwards over Doncic and SGA??? ARE YOU CRAZY? THAT'S BIDEN TYPE DEMENTIA. Take this mans MVP Vote away. Jesus

[@Sharkgaming342]

First comment

[@osvaldopena7837]

I know Joel Embid is injured this year, but when are we going to start putting some pressure on him 🤔

[@tajonmitchel1712]

We’ve put enough pressure on him. He’s finally bringing it. The fact he playing and is still hurt is enough said

[@19jacob95]

He’s been on that list form for quite sometime now if JT isn’t 1 it’s Embiid he’s always gonna be hurt but we have seen teams play and win without their best player cause other guys step up? When will Philly do it?

[@georgeclyde7904]

😂😂😂

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Like this comment if you like "BASKETBALL"

[@cabraldouglas6457]

Where is LeBron James...??? Didn't he say he was the GOAT...???

[@karenboliboli9138]

😂😂😂😂

[@CoffeandReviews]

Boston won’t make it past 2nd round.

[@ARO656]

Boston wont make it past first round. Watch the heat beat them HAHAHAHA

[@masta_wayne]

They definitely winning round one and beating Cavs/Magic round 2. They have a cake walk to the ECF

[@lyndaaugustin6326]

​@@ARO656 Heat in 5. 😂 #GoHeat

[@CoffeandReviews]

@@ARO656 Heat will lose tonight

[@ARO656]

@@CoffeandReviews What Was that?? We Won by 20 plus points HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@M.ghazi63]

Honestly the worst list 😭

[@riconosberg7241]

Wilbon is senile...

[@mjsfam438]

😂😂😂 no excuses for Embid

[@jimas9775]

Tatum will fold

[@blackmist1981]

Zero excuses for what? Getting to the finals? Cuz they not better than Denver. So him not winning a ring, the reason is Denver. But that’s not an “excuse”

[@karenboliboli9138]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@kaiskajani5305]

I think we can all agree nobody wants to hear Kendrick poor takes. They wanna hear Tim legler and his expert analysis give legs his own show