- Report: Lakers expected to bring back Stanley Johnson for 2022-23 season
- Shareef O’Neal admits LeBron James was his favorite player growing up
- Report: Pacers ‘chuckled’ at Lakers’ Russell Westbrook trade offer for Malcolm Brogdon
- Report: Anthony Davis for Kyrie Irving trade considered unlikely
- Former Lakers champions disgusted while watching Warriors championship parade
- Heartbreaking 911 call released after Ohio teen’s death outside LeBron James’ I Promise School
- Report: Lakers expected to be among ‘interested suitors’ for Kyrie Irving if star guard leaves Nets
- Lakers spread awareness on history of Juneteenth and how to celebrate new holiday
- Report: Lakers interested in acquiring Bradley Beal
- Report: Lakers assistant coach leaving team to join Jason Kidd’s staff on Mavs
Kendrick Perkins Says It Was a Lot Easier to Win Against Kobe Bryant Than LeBron James
- Updated: May 22, 2020

Center Kendrick Perkins played 15 seasons in the NBA, during which he played with and against some of the greatest players in recent memory.
During an episode of ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” Perkins talked about the difference between playing against Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in response to a comment about Bryant made by Paul Pierce.
Paul Pierce: “If a game is on the line and I need one game, I want Kob.”
Kendrick Perkins: “It was a lot easier to win against Kobe Bryant than it was LeBron James.”
(🎥 ESPN Countdown) pic.twitter.com/Uu4YaAoSrE
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) May 22, 2020
When Perkins and Pierce faced off as members of the Boston Celtics against Bryant’s Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals, they manhandled L.A. in six games. The Lakers were unprepared for Boston’s physicality, much of which was initiated by Perkins, and Bryant struggled mightily with his shooting.
The Lakers, however, learned their lesson and earned their revenge over Boston in a very close and classic seven-game 2010 NBA Finals.
Although Perkins’ Celtics defeated James’ teams in the playoffs in 2008 and 2010, James still got his in both matchups.
He scored 45 points in a classic Game 7 loss in ’08 and played very well in taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 2-1 lead in 2010 before losing the next three games.
Generally speaking, Bryant was easier to contain than James, since the latter is likely one of the greatest physical specimens in NBA history.