ESPN analyst and former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins is heading into college basketball administration.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Perkins has agreed to become the men’s basketball general manager at Jackson State while also serving as a resource for the university’s broadcast and journalism programs. The 14-year NBA veteran said he accepted the role with a focus on mentorship and community impact.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity to impact young lives and pour back into my community,” Perkins told Charania.
Perkins, 41, becomes the latest former NBA player to take on a front-office position in college basketball. Recent examples include John Wall at Howard, Stephen Curry at Davidson and Trae Young at Oklahoma. The growing trend reflects schools’ efforts to leverage NBA connections for recruiting, player development, NIL opportunities and program visibility.
The appointment comes at an important time for Jackson State basketball. The Tigers are coming off a 12-21 season under head coach Mo Williams, finishing 10-8 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Jackson State ranked near the bottom of Division I in scoring defense, allowing 83.8 points per game while scoring 70.2 points per contest.
The 2025-26 campaign represented a step backward after a 16-18 season in 2024-25, when the Tigers posted a 14-4 conference record and finished among the SWAC’s top teams. Since Williams took over before the 2022-23 season, Jackson State has yet to post a winning overall record, compiling a 57-75 mark across four seasons.
Perkins’ arrival could help the program strengthen its recruiting footprint. During his NBA career, the 6-foot-10 center played 782 regular-season games with the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans. He was a starting center on Boston’s 2008 championship team and appeared in the NBA Finals three times.
While college general manager roles vary by program, responsibilities often include roster construction, transfer portal evaluation, NIL strategy and player personnel management.
The Tigers have not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2007 and have posted only one 20-win season since then. Their most recent conference title came during the so-called pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, when they went 12-6 overall and a perfect 11-0 in SWAC play.
Perkins worked closely with head coach Trey Johnson and Jackson State athletic director Ashley Robinson in finalizing the agreement, according to Charania. His addition gives the program a nationally recognized basketball figure as it looks to reverse recent struggles and build toward contention in the SWAC.
