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While discussing the young Oklahoma City Thunder squad that went to the 2012 NBA Finals, Boston Celtics champion Kendrick Perkins made an offhand comment about former teammate Serge Ibaka lying about his age at the time. Ibaka fired back, saying Perkins was “spreading misinformation” to get attention.
“Kevin Durant is only 23 years of age, Westbrook is only 22, James Harden is 22, Serge Ibaka is 21 — although he was probably 30 at the time because we already know how certain individuals lie about their age, but we’re not about to get into that,” Perkins said on the December 26 episode of ESPN’s “First Take.”
Later in the day, Ibaka responded on Twitter.
“Hey Kendrick Perkins, I count my blessings every day, and I don’t usually react to comments about me. But it’s disappointing to hear someone I shared a locker room with spreading misinformation to be relevant and get views on TV and social media,” Ibaka wrote.
Ibaka, who is 33, tweeted that he didn’t mind taking basketball-related criticism but said that Perkins took it one step too far.
“You can talk about my game. If I don’t play well, I will never have a problem with that,” Ibaka tweeted. “But to talk extra for no reason is really not acceptable. It is disrespectful to me, and I feel like it is disrespectful to many Africans who have to live with that unfounded accusation.”
Ibaka is a native of Republic of the Congo, a sub-Saharan nation where the reliability of birth records isn’t as exact as it is in many Western nations.
Ibaka Fires Shots at Perkins
While stating that he never lied about his age, Ibaka continued his Twitter barrage toward Perkins, saying that Perkins cheated and did not respect the game.
“If I was 30 in OKC, I guess I am 45 now? The truth is I never lied about my age, and I work extremely hard every day without cheating, and I have never been suspended. Everyone in the league knows that. You cheated and didn’t respect the game,” Ibaka said, perhaps referring to Perkins’ suspension in the 2010 Eastern Conference finals.
Ibaka then said that Perkins spread lies about the current Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers stars back when they were teammates.
“Although I am disappointed, I am not surprised to see these actions from someone who got his job by breaking the locker room code and by spreading lies about two of his former teammates and brothers like KD and Russ,” Ibaka said.
He then went into more detail regarding what Perkins did to Durant and Westbrook without their knowledge.
“When KD had a bad game, you criticized him behind his back, and when Russ had a bad game, then you criticized him. You were not a locker room leader, and then you continued doing the same in the media,” Ibaka said.
Ibaka then said that though he understands Perkins has a job to do, he criticized Perkins for not being able to do his with class and dignity.
“I understand everyone needs to do their job and take care of their families, but you are proof not everybody knows how to do it with class and dignity. I have more to say about you, but I am not that kind of person, but this time you went too far,” he said.
Perkins Responds to Ibaka
Perkins’ initial response to Ibaka was that his comments were a joke and nothing more.
“Bro it was (a) damn joke. Stop being so damn sensitive,” Perkins said.
Perkins then apologized to his former teammate, saying that he didn’t mean to make Ibaka feel that way.
Hey Serge Ibaka, my bad, homie, if I offended you. It was a joke! My bad if it made you feel some type of way!!! My apologies, my brother,” Perkins said.
Perkins then responded to Ibaka’s claims that Perkins spread lies, claiming that it was the latter who was hiding secrets during their time with the Thunder.
“Did you say spreading lies at Serge Ibaka? Please don’t get me started homie!!!! Please don’t. I’m not about to talk about those OKC days and what you were doing in that locker room. I will not… but you definitely need to stop because you know I KNOW!!!! Carry on tho…”
Both Ibaka and Perkins insinuated that they have dirt on each other when they played together, so for all the public knows, this newfound feud between these former teammates is far from over.
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