“He’s efficient like Michael Jordan” – Ex-NBA champ takes brutal swipe at Kevin Durant in bold praise for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

A one-time NBA champion praised Shai Gilgeous-Alexander amid the 2025 NBA Finals, and at the expense of Kevin Durant, who caught a stray. SGA is on his way to becoming an all-time great for the OKC Thunder, while Durant remains unpopular in parts of the city after leaving in 2016.

Speaking on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Kendrick Perkins offered a hot take that could get a reaction from KD. Perkins believed that Gilgeous-Alexander had surpassed the two-time NBA champion as the best scorer in the league. He even compared him to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

“He’s efficient like Jordan,” Perkins said. “He’s relentless like Kobe Bryant. … When you talk about the guy that’s leading the postseason in mid-range jump shots, that’s him. Long arms, could post you up however you want. He’s going to create space, turnarounds over both shoulders. I’m like, he’s dethroned Kevin Durant, in my opinion, right now as the best scorer in the league. He has zero flaws.”

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From 2:44 onward.

There's no denying that Kevin Durant is still among the best scorers in the NBA, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knocking at the door. SGA led the league in scoring this season and won the MVP after leading the OKC Thunder to their best record in franchise history.

Durant, who has been very active on social media, could react to Kendrick Perkins' take, considering there's no love lost between those two former teammates. KD burned Perk at least twice on social media — for calling himself the leader of the Thunder during his time there and for his average as the starting center.

Kendrick Perkins compared Kevin Durant's Thunder team to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA Finals roster

After the OKC Thunder reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, Kendrick Perkins was asked to compare the current team with the 2012 team.

Perkins explained on News 9 that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder team has excellent chemistry, while the Kevin Durant-led one had players with "personal agendas."

"The difference is you don't find a group of young guys that actually play agenda-free basketball," Perkins said. "Because you have so many times when guys are young in their careers that they want the individual accolades. I don't see that in this young team. I see a team that is proud, that is happy for one another, even when things are not going well."

The KD-led team also had Russell Westbrook and James Harden, with the trio falling short against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. SGA and his Thunder are up against Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers.

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About the author

Juan Paolo David

Juan Paolo is a journalist for Sportskeeda who covers the NBA and WNBA. He's been writing about basketball since 2015 and has been with Sportskeeda since 2021.

Juan's allegiance lies with the Golden State Warriors and his journey with the Warriors began with their memorable victory over the Lakers in 2000, and he experienced the successes of the 'We Believe' era and the rise of Steph Curry. 

What Juan loves most about basketball is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from adrenaline-fueled excitement to the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. To ensure complete accuracy in articles, he conducts thorough research before writing his articles.

The Warriors' victories in the 2022 and 2017 championships hold a special place in Juan's memories, as well as iconic moments like Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko and Goran Dragic's performance in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals.

Off the court, Juan enjoys watching football, TV and movies, caring for his numerous cats, and cooking whenever time permits.

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