ESPN's Kendrick Perkins defended New York Knicks superfan Spike Lee after the latter came on First Take to explain his side of yet another celebrity fiasco at Madison Square Garden.
The renowned film director said he felt “harassed” by Knicks owner James Dolan after he was not allowed to enter the arena once he accessed the employee entrance, one he claims he's been using for the last 28 years.
When will James Dolan get it? We don’t need the whole story before judging! When you have a reputation of mishandling people that represent the culture of NY basketball, like Charles Oakley — Spike Lee should never have a problem at the Garden. He is the Knicks. It’s inexcusable! pic.twitter.com/hb8aXCYI8z
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 3, 2020
Perkins, who was hired by ESPN after playing 15 years in the NBA, was quick to throw forth his support for Lee, claiming people don't need the whole story before judging.
Well, Perk, here is a newsflash: that's kind of the whole point about this journalism thing, isn't it?
This is not the first time Perkins has used his platform with ESPN to errantly declare who is right or wrong or to criticize others in television or social media, but this tweet is as blatant as it gets when it comes to complete ignorance of what his job as an NBA analyst consists of.
While Lee and Charles Oakley are staples of Knicks folklore, they are also subject to follow the rules put in place by the venue.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Lee had been told to use the VIP entrance instead of the employee entrance before, yet he still chose to use it. Lee denies knowing any of it, declaring it was a “lie” and saying it was “Garden spin.”
The Knicks released a statement, accusing Lee of playing the victim and saying he is welcomed at MSG by using the general entrance or the VIP entrance — something the Knicks claim Dolan and Lee agreed to when they shook hands.
Spike Lee said on First Take that such meeting between him and Dolan never occurred.
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