Kendrick Perkins calls LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards the NBA's best backcourt

Perkins also backed Edwards for 2026-27 MVP on Sept. 30.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 55m1 min read

"What we witnessed last night was the best backcourt in basketball." —@KendrickPerkins on LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwa Via @ESPNNBA on X

What happened: ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins declared Thursday morning that LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards already form the top guard tandem in basketball following Wednesday night's regular-season opener. The assessment comes less than a month after the two guards were paired together on Sept. 28 ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Why it matters: The pairing entered the season as one of the league's most debated backcourt combinations due to questions over how two high-usage guards would divide playmaking duties. Perkins had already staked an early claim on the duo's ceiling when he picked Edwards to win the 2026-27 NBA MVP award prior to training camp.

By the numbers: Edwards and Ball combined for 37 points in the first half of Wednesday's 2026-27 season opener.

What to watch: Ball and Edwards continue their opening week of the 2026-27 regular season as opposing defenses adjust to their shared backcourt minutes.

Sources

@ESPNNBA 2026-10-22T19:40:21.357874+00:00

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