It was a mind-boggling thriller that rocked Paycom Centre as Game 5 of the NBA Finals witnessed some crazy intensity. The fans couldn’t keep calm with the Oklahoma City Thunder eventually coming out on top at the expense of the Indiana Pacers. Apart from the fans, however, what was a hilarious exchange between Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson on the broadcast table during the in-game analysis is what set the fans alight with frenetic laughs.
In a game where Jalen Williams powered through with a 40-point masterclass while Tyrese Haliburton suffered a major injury, there were significant questions about the overall commentary standards. Throughout the series, there have been disappointments about the overall commentary while broadcast errors have been spotted. The on-air exchange between Perkins and Jefferson came as a bout of fresh air.
Kendrick Perkins Stopped His Analysis Mid-Air to Question Richard Jefferson
In what was an exciting game between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the analysis from Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson, accompanied by Scott Van Pelt, was equally intense. However, amidst all of that, Perkins turned to his fellow analyst and former NBA player, Richard Jefferson, and asked an incredulous question, “Was you just waving at my wife?”
The question created an air of intense humour, and Jefferson took it like a sport, responding, “I said, ‘Hi, Van.’ Hi, girl. Yeah, she was waving. She waved at me first. She waved at me. She waved at me first!” The banter continued on air while Scott Van Pelt tried desperately to regain control of the show. He subtly pointed at moving forward with the show, but the war continued.
Kendrick Perkins: “Were you just waving at my wife?”
Richard Jefferson: “She waved at me first…”
Scott Van Pelt: “Stop blowing kisses out here…” #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/aclafo0QB3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 17, 2025
SVP said, “All right, we’re going to keep it moving. I’m going to let you guys sort this out amongst yourselves.” To add further humour to the segment before the segment broke, he said, “Stop blowing kisses out here.” The segment’s quality was highly lauded in a sloppy season for the broadcasters, including the likes of Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson.
Perkins Had Already Sparked a Firestorm With His Comment on Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton, who has been in the thick of things for a while now, found himself at the receiving end of a terrible injury, which forced him out of the first half of the game. Despite being a heartthrob throughout the finals, despite all the ongoing cacophony outside the court, Hali managed to keep it all away. However, his injury in the fifth game saw Kendrick Perkins take him to school.
Perkins said, “Sit him down. Well, sit him down, because I don’t want to hear any excuses. If you’re on the floor, you need to produce. This is the NBA Finals. This is Game 5. And to be honest, before he went down with the calf injury, he looked scared. He looked scared to death.”
The way Kendrick Perkins be talking, you would think he had a Hall of Fame career and he had 30 point games while playing through injuries. Now you questioning Halisburton heart because he’s hurt. pic.twitter.com/gnzbVCiPd5
— Jaguar Paw (@sirdibbydukes) June 17, 2025
Somehow, Stephen A. Smith, his fellow broadcaster, cooked up further controversy, stating that he was glad that Hali copped a blow. That remark was harsh, indeed, because no matter how great one becomes, there will be off-days, and it was just a bad day at the office for Haliburton.
With all the ‘overrated’ controversy continuing to brew around Haliburton, somehow his ordinary performance in game five sparked a lot of heat from the experts.
