Kendrick Perkins
SF · 2003 NBA Draft, 1st round, pick #27 (MEM)
Why he was overlooked Patterns
Signals in our data that pointed to him being undervalued: pre-draft rankings. Details below.
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #15 overall (#4 at his position), but he lasted until pick #27: teams let him slide 12 spots past that ranking.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 68.6% of the time (194 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Age
18.6 years old on draft night (born 1984-11-10).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.7% of the time (300 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Position
SF (ESPN draft listing).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.2% of the time (570 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Availability
Played 782 games over 14 NBA seasons (~68% of a full 82-game schedule each year).
Every line comes from data: Basketball-Reference career data; ESPN's draft profile; Wikidata birth dates. No scouting reports or quotes. Green = pointed toward a steal for him.
Career numbers
| Seasons | 14 |
| Games | 782 |
| Minutes / game | 21.9 |
| Points / game | 5.4 |
| Rebounds / game | 5.8 |
| Assists / game | 1.0 |
| Win Shares (career) | 27.9 |
| VORP | 0.6 |
| Box Plus/Minus | -1.9 |
The 2003 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2003 pick. Dashed line = typical redraft rank for each slot (2000–2021 classes). Above the line = beat his slot.
How players like him did
| Pre-draft rankings Slid 10+ picks past ESPN's rank | 68.6% n=194 | |
| Age Under 20 | 51.7% n=300 | |
| Position Forward | 51.2% n=570 |
Share of 2000–2021 picks with the same trait who beat their draft slot. Line = 50%.
Measurables & pre-draft
| Height / weight | 6' 11", 290 lbs |
| Age on draft night | 18.6 |
| Born | 1984-11-10 |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #15 overall (#4 SF) |
Picked around him 2003 redraft
| 24 | Brian Cook | redraft #27 |
| 25 | Carlos Delfino | redraft #17 |
| 26 | Ndudi Ebi | redraft #39 |
| 28 | Leandro Barbosa | redraft #13 |
| 29 | Josh Howard | redraft #12 |
| 30 | Maciej Lampe | redraft #41 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 15+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.