Kendrick Perkins Says Kevin Durant Should Be Training With Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün — Why Offseason Focus Matters for the Rockets

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights:
2. Introduction
3. Why a Workout Video with Paolo Banchero Triggered Pushback
4. Perkins' Argument: Mentorship Should Serve Team Integration
5. What Houston Needs: Chemistry, Roles, and Young Talent Ready for a Superstar
6. How Focused Offseason Work Produces Regular-Season Gains
7. Anatomy of an Effective Durant–Rockets Offseason Program
8. Tactical Scenarios Where Durant's Presence Requires Drill Work
9. Lessons from the League: When Veteran Presence Accelerated Young Cores
10. The Case for Training with Other Stars: Why Durant Might Still Benefit from Sessions with Banchero
11. Measuring Impact: What To Watch Statistically Next Season
12. Practical Recommendations for Durant and Houston
13. Risks and Trade-offs: Why the Decision Is Not Purely Tactical
14. Potential Outcomes for the Rockets Next Season
15. Who Decides? The Coach, the Player, and Organizational Alignment
16. FAQ

Key Highlights:

• Kendrick Perkins criticized Kevin Durant for posting offseason workouts with non-Rockets players, arguing Durant should prioritize extended training with Houston's young core, specifically Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün.
• Focused, repeated offseason sessions between a high-usage superstar and developing teammates can accelerate chemistry, clarify roles, and produce measurable in-season gains in spacing, pick-and-roll efficiency, and offensive consistency.

Introduction

A short video clip of Kevin Durant training with Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero became more than a highlight reel; it sparked a league-wide conversation about priorities, preparation, and what veteran superstars owe their teams before the regular season. Kendrick Perkins, former NBA center turned ESPN analyst, voiced a blunt view on First Take: Durant’s mentorship is valuable, but Perkins wants to see that mentorship directed at the players Durant will share the court with in Houston.

Durant arrived in Houston last season as the marquee piece of a blockbuster trade. The Rockets’ playoff exit in the first round raised expectations and questions about what it will take to move beyond the second week of April. Perkins’ call—that Durant should spend his offseason drills and reps with Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Şengün and other Rockets—touches on a broader debate in modern team-building: does a superstar’s offseason network-building help or hinder their team’s short-term goals? This article examines the arguments, explores the tactical and developmental mechanisms involved, and lays out a practical roadmap for how Durant and the Rockets could structure offseason work to maximize next season’s ceiling.

Why a Workout Video with Paolo Banchero Triggered Pushback

Offseason training footage is a staple of NBA social media. Fans expect to see stars fine-tuning their games between seasons, and many players use those sessions to collaborate across teams. For Durant, who has long cultivated an image as an unrelenting worker and self-professed "pure hooper," inviting talented contemporaries into the lab is routine. Those sessions often produce slick highlights and a steady drip of envy and admiration across the league.

Perkins’ objection was not about mentorship per se. On First Take he said, “I’ve been seeing a video that’s been circulating of KD working out with Paolo Banchero and I appreciate the mentorship. But that’s mentorship needs to be going at the guys he’s actually going to be on the floor with this upcoming season. I wanna see videos of KD in the lab with Jabari Smith, I wanna see videos of Şengün and Kevin Durant working out.”

The viral clip became a focal point because it sharpened an underlying expectation: when a team has acquired a generational star, the offseason becomes a scarce resource. Training time can be spent building chemistry with teammates, refining individual skills, or broadening relationships with the league at large. Perkins framed the issue as an allocation problem. For a Rockets roster with a young, ascending core, the argument goes, the highest-leverage use of Durant’s time is to prepare them for the on-court realities of playing with an elite, high-usage scorer.

Perkins' Argument: Mentorship Should Serve Team Integration

Perkins’ critique rests on several interlocking assumptions: Durant’s presence is the decisive variable in Houston’s near-term ceiling; chemistry with foundational pieces matters more than cross-team mentorship; and the offseason provides an opportunity set large enough to materially change how the Rockets play together.

These assumptions merit close inspection. A few points clarify why Perkins’ stance resonates with many observers:

• High-usage superstars create structural changes in an offense. The presence of a player who demands and attracts defensive attention requires teammates to adjust cutting patterns, spacing, and shot selection. Those adjustments are learned processes that benefit from repetition in live settings.
• Younger players often make their most meaningful jumps when exposed to the habits and instincts of elite veterans. Off-court instruction—timing in pick-and-roll defense, how to set screens to free a catch-and-shoot shooter, or where to space during post-ups—translates into game speed only after sustained practice.
• A blockbuster trade raises expectations. After a playoff exit, pressure mounts to show measurable improvement. Fans and analysts look not only for player development but for evidence of intentional preparation that aligns with strategic needs.

Perkins is asking for accountability: the Rockets added Durant to raise their ceiling. If that ambition is real, then Durant’s offseason calendar should reflect the most efficient path to producing the on-court cohesion necessary to realize it.

What Houston Needs: Chemistry, Roles, and Young Talent Ready for a Superstar

Understanding why Perkins singled out Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün requires a closer look at what those two bring and how they intersect with Durant’s game.

• Jabari Smith Jr. is a wing prospect whose offensive profile includes spacing, catch-and-shoot ability, and a developing capacity to attack closeouts. He projects as a complementary floor-spacer who can stretch defenses if given consistent touches from beyond the arc.
• Alperen Şengün is a skilled, creative center who excels in short-roll scoring, touch passes, and nuanced post play. His offensive instincts and passing make him an intriguing pick-and-roll partner and a non-traditional interior focal point.

Both players operate differently from traditional shooters or finishers. They succeed when reads are crisp: when the passer knows the timing and angle, when the ball-handler understands when to hit the roller or when to kick out to the corner, when shooters trust that they will receive the right delivery. Durant’s skill set—spacing, gravity, and elite finishing—changes the reads for wings and roll men alike.

Practical examples of how Durant’s presence shifts the offense:

• Durant on the wing draws multiple defenders, creating seams for Şengün to exploit in the short roll or dump-off scenarios. Şengün’s ability to find cutters and hit floaters depends on receiving the pass at pace and on time.
• Jabari benefits from Durant’s threat level by getting cleaner catch-and-shoot attempts; defenders scrambling to contain Durant may leave rotational windows open for the wing.
• Durant’s passing from the high post or during isolation sequences can create easy scoring opportunities for cutters, pick-and-roll partners, and shooters. Those moments require timing and recognition that are sharpened through repetitive on-court work.

If Durant spends the offseason teaching, replicating, and executing the specific sets he expects to run in Houston—stuff like staggered-screen actions, pindown-and-ride sequences, and Durant-driven pick-and-roll entries—the young core can internalize their roles and reduce the mechanical friction that shows up as turnovers or stagnant offense in October.

How Focused Offseason Work Produces Regular-Season Gains

There’s a difference between casual skill sessions and targeted, repeated drills designed to solve team-specific problems. When a veteran superstar trains with teammates—rather than through a series of one-off sessions against outside talent—three categories of gains emerge.

1. Tactical synchronization
   • Timing in pick-and-roll: How long should the roller delay? When should the ball-handler throw the kick-out? How does the defender’s leverage change the read?
   • Off-ball motion: Recognizing when to cut to the rim versus getting to a short corner. Pre-play movements—stagger screens, slips, and relocation—become automatic through repetition.
   • Set plays and counters: Teams often rely on a handful of sets to initiate offense. Practicing those together builds muscle memory for live games.
2. Role clarity and habit formation
   • Usage allocation: Young players learn when to look for their own shot and when to defer to Durant’s creation. Role clarity reduces indecision and late-clock turnovers.
   • Shot selection: Durant can coach teammates on high-value shots within the offense—catching in rhythm, avoiding contested long twos, and understanding shot expectation zones.
   • Defensive cues: Offense and defense are linked; recognizing offensive tendencies of teammates helps on the defensive end, where help rotations and switches must be synchronized.
3. Psychological alignment and communication
   • Trust: Repetition builds trust. When teammates know Durant’s tendencies—whether he will kick to the corner or finish through contact—they play with more aggression and confidence.
   • Leadership language: Consistent, aligned terminology for sets, reads, and coverages reduces confusion under pressure.
   • Accountability: Shared off-court work fosters a culture of accountability that carries into the regular season.

The difference between casual improvement and team-level impact is the depth and specificity of practice. A handful of runs in Los Angeles against outside players sharpens skills. Weeks focused on the Rockets’ specific timeline, spacing, and sets—repeated until they are reflexive—creates a structural advantage.

Anatomy of an Effective Durant–Rockets Offseason Program

Designing a program for a superstar and a young core means balancing skill work, conditioning, and game-like repetitions. Here is a model that targets the needs Perkins identified, translating theory into a concrete plan teams could implement.

Weekly cadence (12-week offseason block)

• Monday: Fundamentals + Spacing Work
  • Morning: Individual shot mechanics (15–30 minutes with shooting coach)
  • Midday: Spacing drills—catch-and-shoot from NBA range, corner-to-wing rotations, passive closeouts
  • Evening: Light film study on spacing and opponent defensive tendencies
• Tuesday: Pick-and-Roll/Short-Roll Scripted Work
  • On-court: 5-on-0 walk-throughs emphasizing timing between Durant and Şengün for short-roll scenarios; roller delays, slips, and finish options
  • Live: 3-on-3 pick-and-roll live reps with designated defenders
  • Recovery work and mobility
• Wednesday: Isolation and Read Development
  • On-court: Durant leads isolation reads; teammates practice proper spacing and cutting lanes
  • Skills: Jabari works on one-dribble pull-ups and catch-and-shoot rhythm; Şengün practices receiving and finishing with contact
  • Mental: Live scrimmage to integrate reads
• Thursday: Off-ball Actions and Set Work
  • On-court: Pindowns, pin-ins, staggered screens; practice counters with Durant as primary threat
  • Shooting: Partnered shooting sequences to mimic live movement and catch dynamics
• Friday: Scrimmage Day
  • Full-court 5-on-5 with referees, shot clock, and set plays to simulate competitive pacing
  • Focus on execution under fatigue and late-clock decision-making
• Saturday: Recovery, Film Study, and 1-on-1 Work
  • Sessions to drill weak areas identified during scrimmage
  • Individual film breakdowns with Durant coaching reads and tendencies
• Sunday: Rest and Regeneration

Key drills and focal points

• Pick-and-roll alignment: Drills where defender disguises coverage, forcing nuanced reads; rollers must practice when to pop, when to space, and when to flare.
• Pass-and-go drills: Kick-out passing, pocket passes to the roller, and skip passes across the floor under pressure.
• Closeout and corner spacing: Teaching shooters to use jab steps, re-establish balance, and adjust for Durant-driven collapses.
• Early-clock decision sets: Work sequences that produce high-value shots inside the first 8–12 seconds of the shot clock.

Metrics to measure progress

• Pick-and-roll efficiency (points per possession) with Durant as ball-handler versus without.
• Catch-and-shoot percentage for Jabari and other wings within the offense.
• Assist rate and secondary assists for Durant in a Rockets-set context.
• Turnover rate per 100 possessions during scrimmages compared to earlier weeks.

A structured program like this aligns practice volume with the cognitive overhead of playing alongside a superstar. It reduces the “first-week learning curve” in training camp and opens the door to early-season cohesion.

Tactical Scenarios Where Durant's Presence Requires Drill Work

Offense in today’s NBA is a web of options keyed to a primary creator. Durant is that creator. To be maximally effective, teammates must internalize responses to specific defensive behaviors. Here are tactical scenarios that benefit from concentrated offseason reps.

1. Single-coverage collapse
   • Situation: Durant dribbles at the top, defender goes under the pick to prevent the three.
   • Response: Jabari must attack the baseline angle early, using Durant’s gravity to create a corner shot. Șengün should time the roll to the short lane; Durant must recognize when to lob versus feed the roller.
2. Double-team on the catch
   • Situation: Durant posts up or receives a handoff; the defense sends a second defender.
   • Response: Teammates must slide into rotation spots to receive a kick. Quick pre-programmed counters—like a back-screen for Jabari—minimize decision time.
3. Trap on the rim
   • Situation: Durant attacks the rim and gets trapped.
   • Response: Șengün practices pocket passes out of traps, and Jabari spaces to a predetermined spot to provide a safe outlet and spacing for drives.
4. Closeout-induced pull-ups
   • Situation: Durant collapses defense, leaving a wing in the corner.
   • Response: Jabari primes for catch-and-shoot rhythm, emphasizing feet set and hip alignment—work best practiced with Durant simulating the collapse in drills.

Each scenario compresses a continuous decision tree into a set of practiced responses. The difference between successful and failed execution often comes down to whether those responses were rehearsed enough to be automatic in late-game contexts.

Lessons from the League: When Veteran Presence Accelerated Young Cores

NBA history provides multiple examples where veteran additions or extended collaboration with a superstar accelerated team development. Those case studies illustrate the potential upside of focused, in-house offseason work.

• Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns (2020–21): Paul’s arrival shifted offensive structure and habits. His command over tempo and decision-making helped Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton align their game around a veteran point guard’s tendencies. The Suns moved from fringe playoff teams to an NBA Finals appearance in one season, underscoring how veteran leadership can reorient a team’s strategic approach and accelerate development.
• Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors (2018–19): The Raptors’ blueprint involved building around role clarity and elite two-way talent. Kawhi’s arrival—though short—forced role players to adapt quickly. Toronto’s preparation included offensive sets that maximized Kawhi’s strengths and the team’s spacing, which they practiced with urgency and specificity.
• Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs' younger players: Duncan’s steady presence fostered a culture where fundamentals, spacing, and reading the game were prioritized. While mentorship is not solely an offseason activity, consistent veteran modeling of habits helped inculcate a style that persisted across seasons.

These examples share a common thread: integration is active and deliberate. Players who experienced accelerated growth did so in team contexts where veteran presence led to adjustments in habit, strategy, and execution.

The Case for Training with Other Stars: Why Durant Might Still Benefit from Sessions with Banchero

Perkins’ point focuses on immediate team needs. But there’s a counter-argument—training with non-teammates also provides distinct benefits. Durant’s sessions with Paolo Banchero or other league talents are not automatically zero-sum.

1. Competitive intensity
   • Training with accomplished, physically imposing players forces a star to challenge different parts of his game in live, unpredictable ways. That intensity can reveal conditioning or shot-creation wrinkles that routine team drills might not expose.
2. Skill cross-pollination
   • Young players from other teams bring different styles and counters. Working against those tendencies can help Durant and his Rockets prepare for playoff matchups and expand their tactical repertoire.
3. League relationships
   • Offseason interactions shape on-court and locker-room dynamics once teams meet in-season. Building rapport across teams can yield softer defensive pressure or more nuanced competition.
4. Personal brand and mentorship beyond the roster
   • Durant mentoring up-and-coming talents across the league strengthens his presence as a leader in the sport. That leadership can be valuable for the league’s long-term ecosystem, though it does not directly benefit the Rockets’ win-loss record.

Balancing team-focused work and cross-team sessions is possible. The highest-leverage approach might be frontloading team-specific repetitions and scheduling cross-team sessions as supplemental challenges.

Measuring Impact: What To Watch Statistically Next Season

If Perkins’ prescription is followed—Durant invests significant practice time with Houston’s young core—how will observers test whether it worked? Several on-court metrics will indicate whether offseason chemistry converted into game results.

Offensive metrics

• Team offensive rating: An increase in points per 100 possessions, especially early in the season, suggests reduced friction.
• Pick-and-roll efficiency with Durant: If Durant runs more pick-and-rolls with Şengün or other roll men, points per possession in those sets should rise.
• Catch-and-shoot percentage for Jabari: An uptick in corner threes and catch-and-shoot field goal percentage would signal improved timing and delivery.
• Assist percentage and secondary assists: Durant assisting teammates in ways that lead to secondary scoring opportunities demonstrates playmaking synergy.

Ball security and decision metrics

• Turnover percentage: A decline indicates better role clarity and recognition of Durant-driven reads.
• Late-clock efficiency: Fewer turnovers and better shot selection in late-clock situations shows improved execution under pressure.

Defensive metrics

• Defensive rating and net rating: While Durant does have defensive limitations, better communication and understanding of switches involving Şengün can stabilize interior defense.
• Opponent field goal percentage at the rim: If teammates close out and rotate more effectively because of practiced alignments, opponent finishing ability will decline.

Contextual markers

• Early-season offensive sets called and executed without hesitation during games—qualitatively visible via broadcast commentary and play breakdowns.
• Coaches’ comments during interviews and pressers indicating shortened adjustment periods.
• Visible trust in late-game moments: Are coaches designing end-of-game plays that require Jabari or Şengün to act in Durant’s stead?

Metrics alone won’t capture everything, but a combination of statistical improvement and on-camera fluency in executing sets will provide compelling evidence that offseason work paid dividends.

Practical Recommendations for Durant and Houston

Perkins called for focused in-house mentorship; if Durant and the Rockets aim to actualize that idea while preserving beneficial outside sessions, here are practical recommendations that balance competing priorities.

1. Prioritize a 4–6 week block of concentrated on-court work with the Rockets’ core
   • Frontload the offseason with team-specific drills that reinforce the sets and reads the coaching staff intends to use.
2. Structure sessions with a clear curriculum
   • Set weekly objectives (pick-and-roll reads, off-ball motion, late-clock execution) and track progress with measurable outcomes from live scrimmages.
3. Maintain cross-training opportunities as supplementary
   • Schedule short, intense sessions with outside stars to preserve competitive sharpness, but ensure team sessions remain the dominant time allocation.
4. Use film and small-group coaching to scale learning
   • Durant’s experience is a resource; supplement on-court repetitions with detailed film sessions where Durant explains reads and decisions to players like Jabari and Şengün.
5. Simulate playoff physicality and defensive adjustments
   • Create drills that replicate traps, double-teams, and hard closeouts to reduce decision paralysis under pressure.
6. Soft-skill coaching
   • Encourage Durant to share not just mechanics but mental approaches—how to process scouting reports, handle fatigue, and maintain shot selection discipline.
7. Evaluate via metrics and adjust
   • Use preseason games and early regular-season data to test whether the program produced measurable benefits. Iterate quickly where needed.

These recommendations center on conversion: converting offseason knowledge and repetitions into reliable competitive execution.

Risks and Trade-offs: Why the Decision Is Not Purely Tactical

Allocating Durant’s offseason time involves trade-offs beyond Xs and Os. Several practical and relational factors complicate any directive.

• Personal agency and brand commitments: Stars balance training, philanthropic work, business obligations, and personal recovery. Expecting Durant to devote every available minute to team work may not be realistic.
• Team chemistry is built in multiple ways: Sometimes the strongest bonds form during shared adversity in-season rather than curated offseason programs.
• Public perception and optics: Training videos create narratives. Durant’s sessions with rising talents across the league project mentorship and generosity—qualities that resonate with fans and can be valuable for the franchise’s image.
• Injury risk: Overloading players in the offseason carries injury risks. Sustainable plans must include recovery and load management.

A pragmatic approach balances targeted in-house work, judicious outside sessions, and adequate rest to preserve health. Coaches must set guardrails and incentives to guide the allocation of time.

Potential Outcomes for the Rockets Next Season

If Durant commits to a sustained slate of focused sessions with the Rockets’ young core, several plausible outcomes emerge.

Positive scenario

• Rapid offensive alignment leads to a smoother start. Jabari’s catch-and-shoot numbers improve, Şengün’s pick-and-roll chemistry with Durant yields high-efficiency finishing, and the Rockets convert more late-clock possessions into quality attempts. Result: a deeper playoff run and a clear step forward relative to the prior season.

Moderate scenario

• Incremental improvements appear. The Rockets start strong but still encounter hiccups with rotations and late-game execution. The team grows into a contender by mid-season as habits solidify, but inconsistent defense and occasional turnovers cap their ceiling.

Neutral/negative scenario

• Durant’s time remains split between outside talent and the Rockets, or injuries and recovery limit repetition. Chemistry issues persist, and the team underperforms despite star power. The gap between expectations and results fuels trade speculation and offseason reconsideration.

The difference between these scenarios often reduces to execution in the early weeks of the season. That’s why Perkins’ push for offseason focus has traction: the early window matters.

Who Decides? The Coach, the Player, and Organizational Alignment

Ultimately, the allocation of offseason time rests with Durant and the Rockets organization. Coaches can suggest and structure programmatic work; general managers and front offices can set expectations and provide resources; players make choices about how they spend their time.

Successful outcomes require alignment across these stakeholders:

• Coaching staff: design playbook, identify priority reps, and provide practice structure.
• Front office: communicate expectation that team-oriented offseason work is valued and supported.
• Durant: commit to leading the learning both on-court and in film rooms, and balance other commitments with team priorities.
• Young core: accept mentorship and demonstrate readiness to absorb and apply instruction.

Organizational alignment allows the team to take advantage of Durant’s presence not only as a scoring engine but as a living curriculum for the next wave of Rockets contributors.

FAQ

Q: What specifically did Kendrick Perkins say about Kevin Durant’s offseason workout? A: On ESPN’s First Take, Perkins acknowledged the mentorship value but argued Durant’s offseason mentorship should be focused on the players he will play with in Houston. He said, “I wanna see videos of KD in the lab with Jabari Smith, I wanna see videos of Şengün and Kevin Durant working out.”

Q: Why are Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün singled out? A: Both are central to the Rockets’ young core and have complementary skill sets to Durant. Jabari is a wing with spacing and shooting potential; Şengün is a skilled interior passer and roller. Their development and ability to play in Durant-driven actions could significantly impact Houston’s offensive efficiency.

Q: Can Durant train with outside players and still help the Rockets? A: Yes. Cross-team sessions can sharpen competitive edges and expose Durant to new defensive counters. The most effective approach typically includes a prioritized block of team-focused work, supplemented by selective outside sessions for variety and challenge.

Q: What on-court areas should Durant and the Rockets focus on in the offseason? A: Priority areas include pick-and-roll and short-roll timing, off-ball motion and spacing, late-clock execution, role clarity around usage, and mental processing in high-pressure scenarios. Defensive communication around switches and rotations also benefits from practice.

Q: How quickly would offseason work show up in results? A: Some improvements—like catch-and-shoot timing and smoother set execution—can appear early in the season or preseason. More complex chemistry gains may take weeks or months as habits are stress-tested in live games.

Q: Are there risks to heavy in-house training? A: Overtraining raises injury risks. The offseason must balance intensity with recovery. Additionally, creating an insular approach could forfeit the benefits of diverse competition provided by sessions with other stars.

Q: What metrics will indicate the offseason work paid off? A: Key indicators include improved team offensive rating, pick-and-roll efficiency with Durant, higher catch-and-shoot percentages for role players (especially Jabari), reduced turnover rate, and increased assist and secondary assist rates for Durant.

Q: What should fans expect to see early in the season if the Rockets followed Perkins’ advice? A: Expect more fluent offensive sets, fewer awkward looks late in the shot clock, improved catch-and-shoot conversion for wings, and clearer on-court roles. Coaches may call earlier offensive actions that take advantage of Durant’s gravity and the spacing that creates.

Q: Who ultimately decides the content of Durant’s offseason work? A: Durant retains agency, but the coaching staff and front office play key roles in setting expectations and creating structured opportunities for team-focused training. Constructive collaboration among these parties yields the highest chance of meaningful progress.

Q: Does Durant need to spend all his time with Rockets players to make a difference? A: No. A strategic balance can produce benefits both for his individual game and for the Rockets. The crucial element is deliberate, repeated team-focused work that addresses specific in-season needs.

The debate sparked by a brief training clip is less about a single rehearsal and more about allocation of scarce preparation time. Kendrick Perkins’ bluntness reflects a larger truth in modern roster construction: when a franchise stakes its short-term future on a transcendent talent, the efficiency of that player’s investments—minutes spent with teammates, the specificity of drills, and the quality of mentorship—matters. Whether Durant will take Perkins’ advice remains to be seen. What is clear is the path from offseason reps to postseason results runs through targeted, repetitive work that turns good intentions into automatic in-game execution.