JJ Redick has become a massive rising star on ESPN. Overall, it is his appearances on First Take that have ultimately allotted him quite a bit of stardom. Moreover, he has his very own podcast which is also very successful. At this point, Redick has become an authority figure when it comes to all things basketball. He takes a measured approach to his analysis of the game, and fans appreciate him for it. Although, this doesn't always fit in with the hot takes and narratives that shows like "First Take" try to push on a daily basis.
For instance, one debate being had on First Take has to do with MVP voting. Kendrick Perkins has specifically been upset with how people are talking about Nikola Jokic. In fact, Perkins believes that Jokic is stat-padding. This subsequently led to a response from Redick that called Perkins' knowledge of the game into question. Today, things got even more heated as Perkins insinuated that the MVP voters have a racial bias and want a European like Jokic to win for a third year in a row.
JJ Redick Vs. Kendrick Perkins
This ultimately led to a very heated exchange in which Redick was about to lose his mind. As you can see above, Redick started about by explaining what he believes is wrong with First Take. Consequently, Stephen A. Smith had a bit of a stunned expression on his face. From there, he accused Perkins of calling MVP voters "racist." Subsequently, Perkins denied ever doing so, although Redick remained persistent on the matter. Eventually, Smith had to do some moderation of his own, telling both men to speak one at a time.
It was perhaps the most explosive segment Redick has been a part of since joining First Take. In fact, there are a few people out there who believe he might not be invited back for a while. Although a lot of fans are on his side, they also feel like calling out the show as a whole is going to get him sidelined. Let us know who you think was in the right, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.
[Via]