Kendrick Perkins Says Public School Classes Are Holding Back the Next Generation of Hoopers: "You’re wasting time"

Kendrick Perkins carved out a successful NBA career spanning 14 seasons across four teams. He won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and was a part of Cleveland’s final run in 2018. After his playing career ended, he switched to being an analyst and now works for ESPN.

Perkins is famous for his bold takes and never shies away from even criticizing players who were once his teammates, including LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

In an appearance on the “Out The Mud Podcast” on Saturday, he spoke about the benefit of going to a prep school over the public education system.

“If you're talking about taking basketball serious, to the next level, then public school is, traditional public school is not the way to go. … If you talking about taking this basketball sh*t serious," Perkins said (1:24:24).

"Because you're wasting time throughout the day. Don't come giving me this sh*t about, you need it for social skills and all this bullsh*t. Man, it's enough shit to be doing in the outside world. You'll be alright. Right.”

Perkins also alluded to his experience in a public school setting in Texas:

“I spent damn near all of my ninth grade year, taking Texas history. Cause it was a requirement to take Texas history. I don't give a f*ck about no damn Alamodome.”

Kendrick Perkins added that hoop enthusiasts shouldn’t be wasting time learning about irrelevant stuff in the name of requirements. Especially when they could use that time in training or learning something else, like financial literacy.

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Kendrick Perkins Cited Cooper Flagg’s Name as an Example for Benefits of Going to a Prep School

It has become the norm to attend prep schools for basketball aspirants. Cooper Flagg, the 2025 No. 1 draft pick, is a recent example as he completed his high school at Montverde Academy.

Kendrick Perkins spoke about the advantages of attending a prep school and how it benefited Flagg in his lone season at Duke).

“I have been watching (players) who come out of prep school," Perkins said (1:26:25. "Like take it this year, Derik Queen. Cooper Flagg. Cooper Flagg could have stayed in New Hampshire, where you from in Maine. That’s where you from, went to his little local high school.

“Still would have probably went to Duke but would he have been that ready for Duke his freshman year to dominate like he did? No, they training different. They watching film, bro.”

While what Kendrick Perkins said is most true, it is not always possible for everyone to attend prep schools because of high tuition.