Kendrick Perkins Is No Fan Of The Lakers (Video)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins is one of the most physically menacing forces in the NBA. At 6-10, 275 lbs., the native Texan lays claim to the painted area as well as any comparable player in professional basketball. While Perkins' numbers on the stat sheet are down this season (4.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.0 BPG), his OKC squad's record stands at an unbelievable 27-8, heading into Friday night's showdown versus the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. While Thunder All-Star's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook light up arena scoreboards (pair accounts for 47% of team's points), big bodies like Perkins, Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison provide the heavy lifting in and around the basket. What a well rounded roster coach Scott Brooks gets to work with on a daily basis! No wonder this organization is poised to contend for championships, for many years to come.  

Friday, Mr. Perkins was spotted signing autographs outside the Casa del Mar hotel in Santa Monica, California. This oceanfront property is OKC's lodging destination of choice when visiting Los Angeles. Per the above iFolloSports.com original video, Perkins presented his signature, before entering a taxi cab, several hours prior to the beginning of Friday's game.

Towards the conclusion of the clip, the big man responds to a fan's offer of encouragement by expressing his feelings on the suddenly downtrodden Laker team.

“See how it goes, whoop that ass,” exclaimed a confident Perkins, in response to the OKC adorned fan.

The former Celtic has experienced his share of battles with the Purple & Gold, so it is no surprise that a bit of competitive animosity exists. Perkins was the starting center on Boston's 2008 NBA championship team (defeated Lakers in NBA Finals), while also serving as an integral member of the C's 2010 squad, that lost to LA in seven games.  Sadly for Perkins, he was forced to helplessly watch the deciding game, after tearing his MCL and PCL in Game 6 of the series. Original photos of a hobbled Perkins (from the 2010 Finals) are available via this iFolloSports.com story.

Since joining the Thunder, Perkins' Laker issues have continued, with the most notable example involving a brief altercation with Kobe Bryant, a couple seasons back.

Based on his sheer level of physicality, as well as his burning desire for victory, Kendrick Perkins is a man you most definitely want to have on your side in a fight.