Kendrick Perkins Compares Cade Cunningham to LeBron James and James Harden, Lauds His Impact on Jalen Duren

The greatest players in NBA history have done more than just score and defend. They elevate others around them to make their team better. In other words, greatness can be measured by how a player ensures collective success. And Kendrick Perkins, who has played with some legends of the game, feels Cade Cunningham has that in him.

Perkins, who had shared the court with LeBron James during his time on the Cleveland Cavaliers, described how players like the King and James Harden make sure those around them also shine. And that’s what Cunningham is doing at the Pistons, said the 2008 champ.

The player whose performance Perkins highlighted to make his point was Jalen Duren. After Cunningham, Duren has been the most important player for Detroit in the 2025-26 season.

“Cade is so great, he’s giving me LeBron James and James Harden vibes. When you talk about Bron and James, the one thing we can agree on is a lot of motherf****** that played with them, had career years,” Perkins said on the Road Trippin’ podcast. 

“Guess who else is having a career year? Jalen Duren,  All Star” Perkins added. “80% of his buckets come from a pick and roll, down screens,” he added.

Perkins then listed some of the players who thrived alongside Harden: Tristan Thompson, Clint Capela, and Ivica Zubac were among them. Zubac had gone on record earlier this season to explain how Harden’s presence on the Clippers helped him enjoy the best basketball of his career.

Kendrick Perkins on Cade Cunningham:

“Cade is so great, he’s giving me LeBron James and James Harden vibes. When you talk about Bron and James, the one thing we can agree on is a lot of MFers that player with them, had career years…. Guess who else is having a career year?… pic.twitter.com/IOdIEiCFZF

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 22, 2026

Duren’s performance this season has indeed been quite telling. He has averaged 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds and has become an invaluable piece for the Pistons’ campaign. Cunningham, with his elite ball facilitation and the attention he draws from defenders on the court, allows Duren to express himself to his fullest.

That’s also what LeBron did, especially during his Cleveland Cavs championship run in 2016. The King had made a lot of his teammates look better than they were perceived to be before.

However, Duren will have to go at it alone, for now. Last week, Cunningham was diagnosed with a collapsed lung, which has ruled him out of action indefinitely.

Can Duren perform the same without the former No. 1 draft pick out on court? Perkins would say no.