ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins is catching flak for his take on Mason Plumlee and the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns. Despite veteran guard Bradley Beal overhyping the Suns' incoming rookies last week, it isn't easy to gauge what to expect from superstars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Beal, and the Suns after the Minnesota Timberwolves swept them in last year's playoffs. Phoenix is far removed from the championship-contending team it once was. However, Perkins gives them the benefit of the doubt heading into the upcoming regular season.

On a recent episode of ESPN's NBA Today, Perkins talked about how the Suns' superstar trio will get the most from their free agent signing in Plumlee and how the veteran will make his presence felt on both ends of the floor.

“This guy [Mason] Plumlee. He is so valuable to this team,” Perkins said. “Every single team he's been on, he's moved the goalpost on both ends of the floor.”

The Suns signed Plumlee to a one-year, $3.3 million contract over the summer.

Kendrick Perkins says no one is afraid of champion Celtics

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins doesn't believe Celtics can win back-to-back championships in 2025. However, the Suns' Plumlee signing, coupled with Durant winning a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics and adding former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, who guided the Bucks to an NBA title in 2021, are contributing factors to Perkins picking the Suns as the team to look out for in the West.

“They're [Suns] my darkhorse to win it all,” Perkins said. “We saw a disgruntled Kevin Durant average 27 points last year, and he wasn't seeing eye-to-eye with Frank Vogel. Now, he's coming in fresh off winning the gold medal. We saw the joy that he was playing with. Now, he has Mike Budenholzer over there. Mike Budenholzer is coming in with something to prove, felt like he shouldn't have been fired from the Milwaukee Bucks. Bradley Beal is happy. We saw how great Devin Booker looked in the Olympics, and they filled in the pieces.”

After beating the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers in their preseason opener, the Suns are 2-0 and hosting the Pistons for a rematch on Friday.