“I have no loyalty. I’m insanely optimistic.” These were Richard Jefferson’s words for his hunger for the championship, reflecting his personality. The 2016 NBA champ and respected sports media voice, Richard Jefferson is joining Mike Breen and Doris Burke on ESPN/ABC’s top broadcast team and become a part of a $17.6 billion empire. This trio is calling the NBA Finals, and yeah, it’s a huge career move for Jefferson since it’s his first time on the Finals mic. Well, it is time to celebrate and, of course, the NBA world is showing love. But who is first in line? Kendrick Perkins. He is ready with a shout-out.With the NBA’s new media rights deal kicking in next season, the broadcasting game is getting a serious shake-up. Amazon Prime Video and NBC are out here chasing elite announcers, while ESPN is switching things up to stay ahead. ESPN’s NBA booth has been a revolving door since cutting ties with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson during the 2023 summer layoffs. They kicked off last season with Doc Rivers alongside Breen and Burke, but now? It’s RJ’s time to shine. And Kendrick Perkins? He wasted no time showing love to RJ on Instagram.As an ESPN analyst, Kendrick Perkins showed love for RJ in the best way. He shared an Instagram story featuring RJ’s post from The Athletic. It announced his new role on ESPN’s broadcast team. Originally posted by RJ, the news got a repost from Perkins. And he made sure to give RJ the flowers he deserved. And in true Kendrick fashion, he poured love into the caption, celebrating RJ’s big move. “Shoutout to my Mf Brother @richardjefferson ,” Perkins wrote. In the story, he also made it clear this is just the beginning for RJ, adding, “It’s just the beginning my guy!!!! Keep MOVING THE NEEDLE.” Indeed, this is only the start for RJ and he’s got a long road ahead. And just like Kendrick, we’re all rooting for him. But while Big Perk is hyping up RJ, he doesn’t have the same faith in Jaren Jackson Jr.Kendrick Perkins doubts Jaren Jackson despite performanceThe Memphis Grizzlies are quietly putting together a solid season. Sitting at 37-20, they currently hold the third spot in the Western Conference. Surprisingly enough, Jaren Jackson Jr. is leading the team in scoring. But according to ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, that’s not a good sign. Perk argues that Ja Morant is the franchise cornerstone, and he needs to take charge, especially come playoff time.“If you are trying to be a legit title contender, if you’re trying to go match-up with Denver if you’re going toe-to-toe with Oklahoma City, Jaren Jackson Jr. can’t be your best player in a seven-game series”. Perkins said. So who should step up for Memphis? Perk already has his answer. He added, “Ja Morant needs to be that guy. And Ja Morant honestly hasn’t been that guy all season,”.Ja Morant has the talent to be that guy, but consistency is the key. If Memphis wants a deep playoff run, he must bring his best on the court. What do you think? Can the Grizzlies make a title push with JJJ leading the way, or does it have to be Ja?The post Kendrick Perkins Addresses Richard Jefferson’s Big Promotion, Hailing His Impact at $17.6 Billion Giant appeared first on EssentiallySports.