LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
KENDRICK PERKINS: Retired NBA veteran and current ESPN NBA analyst bringing his knowledge, experience and perspective to Jackson State basketball.
The march of former pro players into the black college ranks continued last week as retired NBA veteran and current ESPN broadcaster Kendrick Perkins agreed to become the men’s basketball general manager at Jackson State University.
ESPN insider Shams Charania reported the development last Friday adding that Perkins will also have a connection to JSU’s broadcast and journalism program.
According to Charania, Perkins worked closely with new Jackson State Head Coach and former hoops star Trey Johnson and Athletics Director Ashley Robinson to finalize the role.
“It’s a volunteer role, but he’s going to come in to fundraise,” Robinson told HBCU Legends.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity to impact young lives and pour back into my community,” Perkins said.
A Beaumont, Texas native who entered the NBA in 2003 out of high school, Perkins played 14 seasons in the league, primarily as a staunch defender, rebounder and rim protector, and won the 2007-08 title with the Boston Celtics. He also had stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans.
Though the 6-10, 270-pounder was considered a role player during his NBA career, he has gained notoriety and visibility as one of the lead analysts on ESPN’s NBA coverage since 2019, noted for his often forthright and controversial opinions. He reportedly will continue in the position.
Perkins is following in the footsteps of a host of other pro stars who have taken positions it HBCUs in a variety of administrative roles.
Among them, retired NBA veteran and former NBA top pick John Wall took a similar position at Howard in April. Current NBA star Steph Curry made a six-year commitment to support the Howard golf program in 2019.
Other NBA vets have taken similar positions at their alma maters with Curry becoming assistant GM at Davidson, Trae Young taking on assistant GM duties at Oklahoma and Damian Lillard becoming the GM at Weber State.
Black college football has seen NFL veterans Michael Vick at Norfolk State, DeSean Jackson at Delaware State and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk at Southern among others take head coaching jobs
over the past two seasons.
Robinson bringing in Deion Sanders as JSU’s head football coach in 2020 is considered the kickoff of the trend.
Jackson State has to be hoping that Perkins can give a similar boost to the basketball fortunes as Sanders did to JSU football. JSU finished 12-21 overall and 10-8 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in the fifth year under head coach Mo Williams who left tobecome an assistant at Kentucky.
“His presence gives the Tigers a recognizable voice in player development, recruiting conversations and athlete branding,”said HBCUGameDay founder Stephen J.Gaither in a story on its website.
“It also gives Jackson State another way to connect basketball with media training at a time when college athletics is driven by exposure.
“JSU has already shown how powerful a recognizable name can be when paired with institutional momentum. Deion Sanders’ football tenure brought national attention to theschool. Now, Perkins gives the men’s basketball program a chance to make its own splash.
“The Tigers are not just adding a former NBA player. They are adding a media personality, a championship voice and someone who understands the modern basketball ecosystem.
“Now the question is how quickly that name turns into recruiting momentum for JacksonState men’s basketball.”