Kendrick Perkins didn't mince words on September 1. Appearing on ESPN’s First Take, the outspoken analyst lobbed a direct mandate at the Knicks' franchise cornerstone: Jalen Brunson has to make one Knicks teammate an All-Star next season, says Kendrick Perkins - and that teammate is Mikal Bridges. You heard that right - not Karl-Anthony Towns, not the point guard next to him. The spotlight is squarely on Bridges.
Perkins’ logic is rooted in cold, hard numbers. Bridges inked a massive $165 million extension in July, making him the highest-paid wing on the roster. That level of investment demands an All-Star dividend. And while Brunson is coming off a monstrous 2025-26 campaign - finishing 4th in MVP voting and earning unanimous First-Team All-NBA honors - Perkins believes the onus is on the leader to elevate his teammate, not just pad his own stats.
The Knicks haven't boasted two All-Stars in the same season since Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler back in 2013. That drought, combined with last year's snub of Towns (who averaged 24.1 and 12.3 boards), tells Perkins that Brunson needs to become the loudest advocate in the locker room. The mandate isn't just about votes - it's about changing the entire ecosystem of how this team operates.
📊 $165 million reasons to shine - Bridges' July extension makes him the Knicks' highest-paid wing, and Perkins argues that contract demands All-Star production, not just solid starter output.
| Season | All-Star Representative(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler | Last time NY had two All-Stars |
| 2025-26 | Jalen Brunson (only) | Towns snubbed at 24.1/12.3 |
| 2026-27 | ??? | Perkins demands Brunson + Bridges |
The Blueprint: Why Mikal Bridges Is the Target
The Conference Finals Reality Check
Perkins didn't just fire off a hot take; he brought receipts. In the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals loss to Boston, Bridges cratered, averaging just 14.2 PPG on 41% shooting. That isn't just "not All-Star" material, Perkins argued - it's a liability. Bridges has never cracked 24 PPG in his career, with his peak sitting at 23.1 during his Brooklyn days. To make the leap in Phoenix next February, something has to change fundamentally.
The Familiar Floor
Here's the narrative cherry on top: All-Star Weekend 2027 lands in Phoenix (February 19-21). That's Bridges' old stomping grounds. The basketball gods couldn't script a better comeback story. Perkins says Brunson must feed that storyline by force-feeding Bridges early in games. Forget the fourth-quarter heroics for a second - the mandate is to get Bridges going in the first half, inflate those averages, and let the narrative do the rest.
📊 14.2 PPG wasn't enough - Bridges' Eastern Conference Finals collapse (41% shooting) proved he can't coast on reputation; Perkins demands 25+ PPG or "lose the locker room."
| Season | Team | PPG | All-Star? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Brooklyn | 23.1 (career high) | No |
| 2025-26 | New York | 18.7 (regular season) | No |
| 2026 ECF | New York | 14.2 (playoffs) | N/A |
| 2026-27 Target | New York | 25+ (Perkins' mandate) | ??? |
The X-Factor: A New Offense Designed for This
Rasheed Wallace's Motion Scheme
The Knicks are already ahead of the curve. As of this week, the team has officially shifted Brunson to a permanent off-ball role in camp scrimmages. New offensive coordinator Rasheed Wallace is installing a 2004-Pistons-style motion offense - and that's a direct lifeline for Bridges' scoring potential. The system is literally designed to get the ball moving early and often, which should translate to Bridges seeing more clean looks in the first halves of games.
