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“LeBron James is merely a basketball player, not a hooper”: Kendrick Perkins belittles the Lakers MVP’s skills by claiming Montrezl Harrell is a hooper

Samir Mehdi
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“LeBron James is merely a basketball player, not a hooper”: Kendrick Perkins belittles the Lakers MVP’s skills by claiming Montrezl Harrell is a hooper

Kendrick Perkins calls out LeBron James for being a basketball player but not a hooper, unlike Montrzel Harrell who, according to him, is a hooper. 

By the way LeBron James plays, it’s easy to dismiss his skill and claim that he’s merely a 6’8 tank of a man, barreling through opposing defenders on his way to the cup. However, it’s clear upon watching an entire game that James has more skill than perhaps any other player that’s ever played in the NBA. 

His skill is limited to just one aspect of the game such as shooting, dribbling, or passing, rather, he’s great at all of these. Especially in the latter part of his career, LeBron James has found shots like the fadeaway, the step-back, and has been knocking down the 3 at a consistent clip.

Also read: ‘LeBron James saved Carmelo Anthony from drowning in the ocean’: When Melo described to Dwyane Wade how the Lakers star saved his life

With all the skills that James has at his disposal, there’s no doubt that he’s a hooper. ‘Hooper’ is a term used for people who possess an immense amount of skill at playing basketball and in general, are bucket-getters. Kendrick Perkins must not know the meaning of this term considering the fact that he just used it to slander LeBron James. 

Kendrick Perkins calls LeBron James a basketball player and Montrezl Harrell a hooper. 

According to Clipper beat writer, Tom Azarly, Kendrick Perkins took to Spaces to talk about LeBron James. There’s no surprise here but one particular statement continues to perplex fans and media members alike. “Montrezl Harrell is a hooper and LeBron James is a basketball player, not a hooper,” said Perkins.

Also read: “Stephen Curry and the Warriors needed Kevin Durant more than he needed them”: Stat line from the 2018 Finals fuels fire to this highly debated topic

Now, being relegated to a ‘basketball player’ simply implies that you are just some ordinary player and this is true when used with the word ‘hooper’. Hoopers are usually considered to be better than basketball players and calling Montrezl Harrell a hooper and not James does not make any sense. 

Some believe that the term ‘hooper’ relates to naturally gifted athletes and ‘basketball player’ is used for people who continue to perfect their craft over time. Even with these definitions, LeBron James is both of those things as he is most definitely naturally gifted and has also perfected his craft over the 18 years he’s spent in the league. 

In conclusion, this argument comparing Montrezl Harrell to perhaps the greatest of all time is asinine and should not exist in the first place. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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