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Kendrick Perkins Compares Talen Horton-Tucker’s Situation To A Young Kobe Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers sophomore Talen Horton-Tucker has been turning heads at the start of this year’s preseason. Talen recorded 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in his first game against the Los Angeles Clippers then followed it up with a scorching 33-point game to go along with 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists.

Talen spent the majority of his rookie year in the G-League, but now it seems like the 19-year old Lakers guard is slowly making his case to climb up in the Lakers rotation. The Lakers are already stacked with talent to begin with, but it’s not hard to see Talen eventually buying some minutes and stealing someone’s rotation spot, especially if he keeps his level of play going forward.

As fans and basketball pundits tease an upgraded role for the Lakers sophomore, Kendrick Perkins finds a way to compare Talen to a young Kobe Bryant. On Twitter, the retired defensive big man expresses that Talen is in position to make a roster spot just like how Kobe took minutes from an established player in Eddie Jones. 

“Talen has the most valuable contract in the league right now. Not comparing game or skill but reminds me of the situation. He’s gonna be forced to have to start like a young Kobe running Eddie Jones outta town. Too good to wait for his time, his time is now! Carry on…”

Talen has the most valuable contract in the league right now.

Not comparing game or skill but reminds me of the situation. He’s gonna be forced to have to start like a young Kobe running Eddie Jones outta town.

Too good to wait for his time, his time is now! Carry on…

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) December 14, 2020