Why Kendrick Perkins ‘forgot’ about Warriors star Kristaps Porzingis

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Kendrick Perkins’ dismissal of Kristaps Porzingis was not a slip of the tongue.

It was the reaction of a former champion who believes the Golden State Warriors talked themselves into a move that never matched their own ambition.

Kendrick Perkins reacts to Kristaps Porzingis trade

Perkins’ comments surfaced during a Warriors broadcast and quickly gained traction after the clip circulated online.

Reacting to Porzingis’ presence, Perkins said, “I forgot he still played basketball to be honest with you. I’m serious. I hadn’t heard his name till tonight. He does absolutely nothing for me.”

The blunt assessment landed harder because Porzingis is no longer just another opposing player passing through the schedule. He now sits at the centre of Golden State’s latest roster pivot.

The Warriors acquired Porzingis in a significant deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks, a trade first reported by ESPN sources and one that immediately reframed expectations around the franchise.

Why the Kristaps Porzingis trade disappointed Perkins

Perkins made it clear that his criticism extended beyond Porzingis as an individual. He framed the move as a sharp contrast to the superstar-level conversations that had surrounded the Warriors in recent weeks.

During the same segment, Perkins said, “I mean, when you talk about what we’ve been discussing over the last two weeks, we’ve been talking about pairing Steph with Giannis.”

“Now all of a sudden it’s just Kristaps Porzingis. That don’t move the needle for me, and it damn sure don’t move the needle for the Warriors and Steph Curry,” he concluded.

In Perkins’ view, Golden State shifted from chasing a transformative running mate for Stephen Curry to settling on a move that does not fundamentally change how opponents prepare for them.

Perkins did not forget about Porzingis by accident. In his eyes, the Warriors forced the issue by making a move that he believes fell short of the standard they set themselves.