The 2024-25 NBA season has made picking a title favorite a near-impossible task. With blockbuster trades shaking up the league — including Luka Doncic joining the Los Angeles Lakers and Jimmy Butler heading to the Golden State Warriors — the number of true contenders has never been deeper. Yet, Kendrick Perkins, former NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, took on that challenge head-on during a recent episode of First Take.

Perkins, never one to hold back, dropped his Top 5 title contenders in dramatic fashion — and the reveal set off co-host Shannon Sharpe, who was left stunned by some of the names on the list and the glaring omission of LeBron James and the Lakers.

“Coming in at number five, put it on there — the Clippers,” Perkins declared. “Since March 5th, they’re 14-3 over their last 17 games. Kawhi Leonard Jordan is back. He just won Western Conference Player of the Week and has been doing his damn thing. Zubac is averaging a double-double, and Ty Lue is one of the best coaches in the game. The Clippers are my sleeper pick in the West — and a top-five contender.”

At number four, Perkins looked East: “That’s right, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Best record in the Eastern Conference. They check all the boxes. Donovan Mitchell has made the necessary sacrifices to let others get involved. They play hard, they play smart, and they’ve bought in on both ends.”

Kendrick Perkins attend the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend at Wolstein Center on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio.

What’s in his top 3?

With two names revealed, fans were already buzzing — especially with the Lakers noticeably absent. The suspense only grew when Perkins revealed his third-ranked team: “Coming in at number three — bam! — the Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry has been reborn since Jimmy Butler arrived. Jimmy’s still one of the best two-way players in the league. Draymond Green’s name is in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. They’re clicking at an elite level right now — some of the best basketball in the league.”

Then came the biggest surprise of all: “At number two, the Oklahoma City Thunder. You talk about the best defense in the league — they slide their puppies! They’ve got bigs in Chet Holmgren and Isiah Hartenstein, they defend, they move the ball, and they’re tough as nails. They’re built for the postseason.”

Finally, Perkins saved his top pick for the team he knows best. “At number one, a team I won the NBA Championship with in 2008 — the Boston Celtics. Bam! Put it up there. The most disrespected champions in NBA history. They’re coming back with a complete roster. Kristaps Porziņģis is healthy, Derrick White is one of the best two-way guards in the league, and their chemistry is second to none.”

Lakers missing from the list

What truly lit up social media, though, was who Perkins left off the list entirely: the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite acquiring Luka Doncic before the trade deadline and forming a new star trio alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they didn’t make the cut.

Perkins didn’t directly address the snub during the segment, but his choices suggest he’s placing team cohesion and defensive consistency above raw star power. It’s a bold take — especially with the Lakers finding rhythm late in the season — but one that reflects how volatile this year’s playoff landscape truly is.

Love him or hate him, Kendrick Perkins once again stirred the pot — and in a season where nothing is guaranteed, his Top 5 proves one thing: the race for the 2025 NBA title is wide open.