Former NBA Star Kendrick Perkins Stuns ESPN Host Elle Duncan With Bizarre Joke

Former NBA legend Kendrick Perkins used his nickname, “Perk,” in a bizarre and unexpected way. This week, he appeared as a guest on ESPN’s SportsCenter and had a head-scratching conversation with host Elle Duncan.

When the show began, Duncan gave a brief introduction. She explained that working for ESPN, talking to Kendrick is one of the many “perks.” This played on Kendrick Perkins’s last name as a kind nod to the basketball star.

Thunder Edge Rockets In Double-Overtime Thriller

The pair was scheduled to discuss the season-opening game between the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Houston Rockets.

It was a thrilling event that went into double overtime, with the Thunder ultimately winning 125-124. After analyzing the game and discussing which players delivered and which ones had a subpar performance, the host, Duncan, and Kendrick Perkins were ready to part ways. They also spoke about the Golden State Warriors’ opening season match against the Los Angeles Lakers.

lol yo the comments are wild. I used a Perk idiom at the beginning of the segment (like I always do) and this was him trying to top it. He’s big bruh and my FAVE. there was no shot shotted.

— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) October 22, 2025

The Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers with a final score of 119-109. Thanks to Jimmy Butler, who scored 31 points.

Perkins praised The Warriors for their season-opening, saying do not stand against a light-skinned player like Steph Curry, and added: “I would never go against the light-skinned brother with the green eyes, especially with him having Jimmy Butler alongside him. Steph Curry is one championship away and one Finals MVP away from entering the GOAT conversation.”

Perkins Compares Himself To Painkillers In Head-Scratching Moment

However, for some unknown reason, Perkins decided to share a little joke at the end of the segment. The NBA analyst looked at the camera and asked Duncan if she was ready for the joke. Duncan replied, “Oh God, OK.”

Then he proceeded to make a bizarre comparison between himself and painkillers, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. He asked, “Why do you need ibuprofen when you can have a Perk?” Duncan seemed baffled and a bit uncomfortable. She could have done only one thing, or actually two things. She stayed quiet, looked on, and hoped that the cameras would eventually turn to another segment or simply move on. The joke was so bizarre that other guests in the studio started laughing very loudly.

Duncan, not knowing what else to do, she said, “Uh, the lean back,” and added, “I cannot stand you, but I love you.”

The joke was not clear to many, but some found it inappropriate in a professional setting. Moreover, the play on Perk was too close to the drug Percocet. This added to the mounting controversy.