Kendrick Perkins Net Worth: Know More About Celtics Legend's Earnings From NBA Career, ESPN Gig, and More (2024)

Kendrick Perkins earned millions of dollars in his more than a decade-long career. During that time, he suited up for multiple teams like the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and more. The longest duration of this came with the Celtics, and he even won his only NBA championship in Boston.

After playing for 14 years in the league, Perk finally hung up his basketball shoes with his last season in 2018. However, Perk was not done with his million-dollar earnings, which continued with his association with ESPN as an analyst after his retirement. But how much wealth has the NBA champ amassed so far?

Kendrick Perkins’ career was like a roller coaster

As per the information available on Celebrity Net Worth, Perkins’ net worth as of 2024 is $28 million, while his earnings from the league stand at $57.8 million. This amount represents the money he made playing on different teams, and does not account for his entire net worth. Entering the 2003 draft, Perk’s NBA journey started after the Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the 27th overall pick.

But it seems the Grizzlies had their plans set around Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones, who they received in trade for Perkins and Marcus Banks from the Celtics. The Grizzlies would not have regretted the move considering Perk’s subpar performance in his first two seasons. He averaged just 2.2 points, and 1.4 rebounds in 10 games of his rookie season, but still, the Celtics decided to offer him a rookie deal.

If it was the number of games and less playing time that the franchise took into consideration, things did not change much in the second season either. After signing a 3-year, $4.3 million rookie deal, Perkins played 60 games in his sophom*ore year. However, with 2.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, the stats were more or less the same. But Perk was heading towards a slow but gradual growth.

With increased minutes on the floor, Perk’s averages also improved. This sign of growth and improvement did not go unnoticed by the Celtics, as the franchise offered a 4-year extension worth $18 million. Boston winning its 17th championship in 2008 with Kendrick Perkins on the roster is proof that the franchise’s faith in the big man was justified. He was the starting center on the championship-winning team.

After a successful playoff run in 2009, Perkins arguably had his best season in 2009-10. Averaging 10.1 points and 7.6 rebounds, the Celtics reached the Finals once again in 2010, but this time, the fortune favored the Los Angeles Lakers. Midway through the following season, the franchise traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But it seems Perk had created a value of his own by then, as just after one month, he landed a 5 year, $39 million deal with the Thunder. During his time with OKC, Perk made it to playoffs in all four seasons and the Finals in 2012. Subsequently, once his run ended with the Thunder, the ex-Celtics star got traded to the Utah Jazz, who waived him. He signed a 1-year, $434k deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and reached another Finals in 2015. However, he only averaged 4.1 minutes per game in the playoffs.

Then he signed for the New Orleans Pelicans on a 1-year, $1.5 million deal. Two years later, he returned to the Cavs and reached the Finals once again in 2018. However, his contributions towards the end of his career were more of a mentor. He eventually used that experience for his life post-basketball.

Perkins’ earnings as an ESPN analyst

Ending his career with his last stint with the Cavaliers, the NBA champ soon entered the broadcasting field. Having started as an on-air sports commentator and analyst, Perk gained quick recognition for his blunt and unapologetic takes.

The most popular work for the ex-Celtics star over the years has been his association with ESPN’s First Take. Although he may have landed into controversies quite often, his takes do bring significant reach and engagement. Perk’s initial salary, as stated on Celebrity Net Worth, with ESPN was $1 million per season.

Call it his popularity or controversial image, the network signed a multi-year extension contract with Perk in 2021. Following this, his earnings with ESPN reached $2 million per NBA season. But Kendrick Perkins’s estimation of wealth does not end here, as he also owns a one-acre property in Tomball. The property also includes a reported 5,600-square-foot house in a gated golf community.