Kendrick Perkins savages Lakers with ‘dumb’ declaration after Game 5 loss to Rockets

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins delivered a harsh take on the Los Angeles Lakers after a 99-93 Game 5 loss to the Houston Rockets. With James and the Lakers’ 3-0 lead against the Rockets one-loss away from a 2-2 tie, Los Angeles could take the top spot in Perkins’ dumbest NBA teams’ list.

After Perkins crowned the Houston Rockets as the dumbest team in the NBA, he said the Lakers are the runner-up after losing Game 5, he said, per ESPN’s SportsCenter.

“The Lakers are the 2nd most dumbest team in the league,” Perkins said.

Perk last week: "(The Rockets) are the dumbest team in the playoffs"

Today: "The Lakers are the 2nd most dumbest team in the league" pic.twitter.com/hzPP5xuans

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 30, 2026

Kendrick Perkins isn’t holding back in his harsh take on the Lakers’ recent shortcomings. Coughing up two losses after the Rockets were on the brink of elimination, the Lakers will have a third opportunity to eliminate Houston in Game 6 on Friday.

LeBron James reacts to Lakers’ Game 5 loss

Lakers All-Star LeBron James expressed frustration after losing Game 5 to the Rockets. Addressing his team’s issues on both ends of the floor, James says the Lakers lost focus during the middle quarters of Wednesday’s six-point loss, he said, per OC Register’s Benjamin Royer.

“We have some opportunities to make some shots we didn’t make,” James said. “Obviously, they were generating good shots. I mean, as much as we gotta defend, we also gotta score in the end, too. I don’t think we did that at a good rate, especially in the second and third.”

LeBron James said the Lakers made “too many unforced mistakes” in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets.

Game 6 is Friday in Houston. Lakers up 3-2 in the series. pic.twitter.com/7iyKwMc3K7

— Benjamin Royer (@thebenroyer) April 30, 2026

James led the Lakers with 25 points, seven assists, and two steals. Austin Reaves tallied 22 points, six assists, and four rebounds off the bench in his first playoff game since an oblique injury.

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