Kendrick Perkins isn’t ready to pick the 76ers in their first-round meeting with the Knicks in the NBA playoffs, especially because the former NBAer and current ESPN analyst isn’t sure about Joel Embiid’s health.
Perkins, while speaking on “NBA Today” on Thursday, said he is concerned Embiid isn’t fully back to himself following a knee injury earlier in the season.
Embiid admitted previously that the knee issue took him to a dark place, and he was held out of the 76ers’ regular-season finale for precautionary reasons.
He did, however, score 23 points and chip in 15 rebounds during Philly’s play-in win over the Heat.
But Perkins pointed to Wednesday night’s win in the play-in tournament as another reason for concern related to Embiid’s health.
During a debate on “NBA Today” between Perkins and Austin Rivers over if they would take Embiid or Knicks star Jalen Brunson, Perkins went with the latter.
“Don’t act like what we’re all saying here is not a real thing when it comes down to his knee and his health,” Perkins told Rivers. “And in a couple of days, it’s not going to magically get to where he’s 100. That’s why I’m not picking Joel Embiid.”
When healthy, Embiid has been one of the most dominant players during the regular season, as he averaged 34.4 points per game.
But outside of his strong fourth-quarter performance on Wednesday, his play through the first three quarters raised concern for Perkins.
“If Joel Embiid was 100 percent, yes I would take Joel Embiid,” Perkins said. “If Joel Embiid was 90 percent, yes I would take Joel Embiid. If Joel Embiid was 80 percent, yes I will take Joel Embiid. Joel Embiid is nowhere close to that. He has zero dunks since returning from the injury. That means his lift is not there.”
The Knicks and Sixers will begin their series Saturday at Madison Square Garden at 6 p.m.
Whether Perkins’ analysis is correct or not will be determined on the floor.