Elle Duncan and Kendrick Perkins (Photo voa ESPN)

Kendrick Perkins might not be in the NBA anymore, but he still devotes time to practice. Because there’s no way he came up with what he told Elle Duncan on his first night back on the job on the fly.

Safe to assume the former Boston Celtics and OKC Thunder big man spent a good chunk of the summer workshopping punchlines for the 2025/26 NBA season, given that it didn’t take him two shows to go viral for something totally unnecessary and out of the way.

Perkins, who was recently slammed online for saying “random stuff,” joined Duncan on ‘SportsCenter’ for opening night. She must have mentioned a headache or some type of pain because she needed Ibuprofen.

Sensing his opportunity, the Texas native had Elle brace herself, asking her whether she was ready before dropping a line that won’t soon be forgotten.

“What you need Ibuprofen for when you have a Perk?” he asked, leaning back with a look that suggested he was extremely proud of himself.

Kendrick Perkins Leaves Elle Duncan Speechless With Wild “Perk” Joke

Kendrick Perkins (Photo by Kyle Terada/Imagn Images)
Duncan, clearly uncomfortable, looked down and paused before saying, “I literally can’t stand you, and I love you” before quickly changing the subject.

Check it out below:

The clip sent social media into ruptures.

“You can tell he’s been waitin’ to drop that gem,” someone wrote in the comments.

“He thought he ate😂,” a user observed.

“Ngl that line was hard but it was literally this meme 🤣 wrong messenger,” another suggested.

“Bars unfortunately,” said a fourth.

“Tomorrow headline: ESPN/Kendrick Perkins have agreed to part ways,” someone else joked.

“Bro She’s so uncomfortable,” another user observed.

“If I hit you with this pic just know I think I said some fly s**t,” a fan joked.

“Not the televised s3xual harassment,” one comment read.

What a way to start the NBA season at ESPN.

Fans came for the basketball; they ended up with mild harassment disguised as pharmaceutical advice.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.