ESPN Analyst Tells "Petty As Hell" Story About Michael Jordan In GOAT Debate

Shandel Richardson | Mar 29, 2025

Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley during the 1993 NBA Finals in Chicago. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins is a huge fan of the Michael Jordan shoe.

He often wears Jordans during television appearances. Perkins was even on the Jordan Brand payroll.

"MJ is petty as hell, too," Perkins said during an appearance on First Take. "You go in my closet, and it's nothing but Js (Jordan shoes). I keep Js on my feet. I was signed to Jordan (Brand) for about two years when I was playing ... I used to get boxes in the mail all the time of the Js before they hit the stores."

Perkins said things changed after his playing days ended. He then became an analyst for ESPN. That's when he said Jordan turned on him.

"I started my media career," Perkins said. "As soon as I said LeBron James was the GOAT, those boxes stopped coming."

COACH PRIME PROPS FORMER NBA PLAYER

Former NBA player Matt Barnes is mostly known for traveling miles to pick a fight with former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Derek Fisher.

What many are unaware of is Barnes' ability on the football field.

Barnes was a two-sport star in high school, playing wide receiver. Even NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders attests to Barnes' football talents.

"This joker, arguably, is the best other athlete," Sanders said during an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast with Barnes and Stephen Jackson. "When I say other athlete, I know he did basketball but he could've played football."

Allen Iverson and LeBron James are often discussed as NBA players who could have played in the NFL. But Sanders puts Barnes' ability right up there.

"Everybody sees the film," Sanders said. "You give AI the love that he deserved at quarterback. They got some tape on `Bron. But, come on man, you put it down."

Barnes said he even participated in some spring football drills his sophomore year at UCLA before deciding to focus on hoops.

"I just didn't see at the time nobody 6-8 doing it," Barnes said. "Harold Carmichael with the Eagles, 6-7, but I just didn't really see it. It's not a day that passes, especially when I was first grinding in the beginning of my career like, `Damn, I'm just going to play football but I stuck with it and rode it out."

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day Hoops On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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