NBA Twitter Reacts To Kendrick Perkins Calling Gabe Vincent The Miami Heat’s Second-Best Player

Former Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent signed with the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night.

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins is a regular target by basketball fans on social media. The latest ridicule came after he claimed Gabe Vincent was the second best player on the Miami Heat during their playoff run.

“Gabe Vincent, we saw what he did,” Perkins said. “Last year he was consistently probably the second best player on the Heat team that went to the Finals.”

Perkins was probably just expressing elation in the Los Angeles Lakers signing Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract, making a much needed change at the point guard position. Still, people took it as an opportunity to mock him.

My god man.. @KendrickPerkins just called Gabe Vincent the second best player on the Heat. It’s getting embarrassing. https://t.co/ttcsNPWXST

— Shap33 (@Shap33) July 1, 2023

Kendrick Perkins really said Gabe Vincent was the 2nd best player on the Miami Heat with a straight face…… pic.twitter.com/VoMT0ZLFnd

— Trap (@ThunderUpSZN) July 1, 2023

Some even suggested Perkins should have been among the ESPN personalities released within the past few days.

How was he not released with the other ESPN talent?

— CM (@CharlesMilian) July 1, 2023

To their point, Vincent wasn’t considered to be a top two player in Miami during their run. He certainly exceeded expectations but the general consensus is Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were still the 1-2 tandem. Even for Adebayo’s struggles, he was the team’s leading rebounder and had several 20-point performances en route to victories. He was the team’s best player in the Finals, seemingly the only person giving the Denver Nuggets a run for their money. Vincent had stretches of single-digit scoring performances on poor shooting, and was largely absent in the Finals.

This isn’t to knock Vincent’s performances though. He was essential to the team’s postseason run and largely benefited Miami when he started. Hopefully, he can continue his success in Los Angeles and elevate his new team to championship contention.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.