Kendrick Perkins Shades Kyrie Irving

Kendrick Perkins joined Golic & Wingo this morning to discuss the story about Kyrie Irving leading a charge about concern of the bubble in Disney World, out of worry that returning to basketball will distract from the protests going on against racism.

Perkins said that these conversations make it look like basketball players are not unified, and that it's causing "conflict and confusion" between players. Said Perk: "Everyone came to the conclusion that we are gonna play, and now all of a sudden one guy is trying to make noise -- to ruffle feathers -- for no reason."

Perkins said that Irving will not "move the needle" because the sport's powerful superstars voted unanimously to return to play. He added his opinion about what changed Irving's mind between a conference call a couple weeks ago in which he voiced no opposition to return and this past weekend: "What I strongly believe and what I heard is the NBA and the NBPA told Irving he can't go to Disney World" as an inactive player, when he had previously wanted to go.

Worth noting: Perkins, in his commentary in recent months, has been very partial in his favoritism for his former teammate LeBron James, who a) has been emphatic about returning to play even as he engages in social activism (domestically, at least), and b) has had past friction with Irving.

As we said earlier, regardless of how you feel about the merits of Kyrie Irving's stance here, it would cost NBA players an enormous amount of money if they do not ultimately return to play.