Kendrick Perkins has been impressed by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s start with the Miami Heat, going as far as comparing his preseason play to LeBron James.
Antetokounmpo joined Miami this summer after 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, giving the Heat one of the NBA’s most dominant players as they look to compete at the top of the Eastern Conference.
The two-time MVP has already started to show another side of his game in Miami, particularly as a playmaker. That caught Perkins’ attention during the Heat’s preseason campaign.
Kendrick Perkins sees LeBron James in Giannis Antetokounmpo
Speaking about Antetokounmpo’s performances, Perkins admitted the Heat star reminded him of James during his time in Miami.
Perkins said: “I ain’t gonna lie, I thought LeBron had returned back to my end. Real talk, that’s… Giannis, please, Erik Spoelstra, more of this.”
The former NBA star was particularly impressed by Antetokounmpo operating as a point forward and creating opportunities for his teammates.
“Giannis at the point forward position. Because the points, they’re gonna be there. The rebounds, they’re gonna be there,” Perkins added.
That comparison is significant given what James was able to accomplish as a playmaking forward during his time with the Heat. Perkins believes Antetokounmpo’s passing has developed to another level in recent years, making his current role even more intriguing.
“That’s why he’s a top five power forward of all time. But this right here, the nine assists, and we’ve been watching over the last few years when he’s been available on the floor, Giannis playmaking and making guys around him better has taken that leap.”
Antetokounmpo recorded 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in Miami’s 144-128 win over the Brooklyn Nets, coming just one assist short of a triple-double.
Perkins wants to see whether that version of Antetokounmpo can carry into the regular season.
“That’s growth. That’s maturity. That’s IQ,” he said. “I want to see a full size of this, a 25-game sample of Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Heat at that point forward position.”
With Miami’s regular-season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves approaching, Antetokounmpo will have the chance to show whether his new role can turn the LeBron comparisons into something more than preseason excitement.
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