Kendrick Perkins Aims To Continue NBA Career

Since appearing in 37 games for the Pelicans last season, Kendrick Perkins hasn’t found a new NBA home, but he also hasn’t made any retirement plans just yet. In a conversation with The Oklahoman, Perkins confirmed that his comeback efforts are ongoing.

“I’m still trying to get back in,” Perkins said. “I’ve been working two-a-days over the last couple of months. Just been going hard. Got a couple of calls, just a few teams say they want to start trying me out and working me out before the free agency’s over with. So, just trying to get back in and see what it do. One more push.”

There weren’t many reports linking Perkins to specific teams during 2016’s free agent period after his deal with New Orleans expired. The Warriors were the one team said to have some interest in the veteran big man, but Golden State was ultimately able to add a handful of other frontcourt free agents on modest deals, including Zaza Pachulia, David West, and JaVale McGee.

For his part, Perkins – who spent parts of five seasons in Oklahoma City – sees the Thunder as a potential fit for him now, though he couldn’t confirm that anything is in the works with the team.

“I feel like I fit here,” Perkins said of OKC. “From me walking in the facility earlier (Wednesday), all the love and stuff that I got and then coming here tonight, and then after talking with [GM] Sam [Presti] and [team owner Clay] Bennett, you just know that it’s genuine. It ain’t like I got that many options that I can just pick and choose, but I feel like this would be a good place.”

The 27th overall pick in the 2003 draft, Perkins has appeared in 781 total NBA games for the Celtics, Thunder, Cavs, and Pelicans, averaging 5.4 PPG and 5.8 RPG over the course of his career.