Kendrick Perkins Gives Kawhi Leonard Hot Take Dismissing Eastern Conference Star Power

Kawhi Leonard has played just one preseason game back with the Toronto Raptors, and that was all Kendrick Perkins needed to see.

During ESPN’s NBA Today, Perkins spoke about Leonard’s ability to improve a team’s chances of winning a championship. Chiney Ogwumike and Malika Andrews also joined the discussion when Perkins shared his views.

Leonard returns to the Toronto Raptors after scoring a career-high average with the Los Angeles Clippers last season. His experience, defense, and ability to perform in big games give the Raptors hope that they can compete with the best teams in the East. Perkins made his views clear during the show.

“Kawhi Leonard is the most feared and most dangerous player in the Eastern Conference. And his peers know that,” Perkins said on NBA Today, as the clip of that part was shared by NBA Base on X.  

Andrews then reminded Perkins about the strong players in the East.

“That's a conference that has Jalen Brunson,” Andrews reacted. 

Perkins acknowledged that and even name-dropped some other players that could challenge Leonard in the East. 

He said, “Brown, LeBron James, Giannis. Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown.”

Leonard has shown that he can compete with the best players in the NBA. He is a seven-time All-Star, a two-time NBA champion, and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He can score against tough defenses and guard some of the best players in the league.

Leonard’s performance last season helps explain why Perkins rates him so highly. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 65 games for the Clippers during the 2025-26 regular season. He shot 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from the three-point range.

These numbers show that Leonard can help his team in both attack and defense. He can create his own shots, score from long range, and get past defenders.

His Raptors debut didn’t hurt the case either. Against the Knicks on October 13, Leonard scored 21 points in the first half alone, then sat the rest of a 50-point blowout win.

Why Perkins says Kawhi Leonard breaks up happy homes

Perkins then used an interesting phrase to explain Leonard’s impact on other teams.

“Kawhi Leonard is known for breaking up happy homes,” Perkins said. 

He explained his point by talking about some of Leonard’s biggest moments in the NBA.

“He broke up the Philadelphia 76ers with Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid,” Perkins continued. 

Leonard helped Toronto beat Philadelphia in the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals. His famous last-second shot in Game 7 gave the Raptors a 92-90 win and sent them to the conference finals, and Jimmy Butler ended up leaving the Sixers that summer.

Perkins also spoke about the Golden State Warriors.

“He broke up the Golden State Warriors with KD,” Perkins continued. 

In the 2019 NBA Finals, Toronto beat a Golden State team that lost Kevin Durant in free agency weeks later.

Perkins then added that Leonard broke up the Clippers too, “in a different way.” That was likely a nod to how his seven seasons in Los Angeles ended.

The team never reached the Finals, his final season ended with a play-in loss to Golden State, and the NBA’s salary-cap investigation into his arrangement with the team cost the Clippers five first-round picks and a $30 million fine before they traded him to Toronto.

Injuries and roster changes also hurt the Clippers’ chances of winning a championship. Leonard was not the only reason behind the team’s struggles.

Perkins believes Leonard can change the result of a playoff series. His scoring, defense, and championship experience make him a dangerous opponent when he stays healthy.

Healthy, though, is the key word. Few doubt Kawhi Leonard’s impact in big moments. Whether he can stay on the floor through the regular season and into the playoffs will decide if the Raptors can fight for a championship again, and if Perkins’ claim holds up.