Why Jackson State is hiring ESPN pundit Kendrick Perkins as men's basketball general manager

Along with a 14-year career in the NBA, many basketball fans are most familiar with Kendrick Perkins for frequently appearing on the "First Take" and "NBA Today" shows on ESPN. Now, the basketball veteran will imminently start as the Jackson State general manager for the men's basketball program.

Perkins was likely hired since he has a recognizable name that many fans and recruits would know, so he will likely grow the recruiting power for the Tigers.

While he will have a new career as general manager, he will reportedly still be able to hold his position on ESPN.

Here's why the ESPN basketball analyst was hired as a general manager for Jackson State.

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Why Jackson State is hiring Kendrick Perkins as general manager

On Friday, Shams Charania reported that Perkins would be moving to Jackson State to become the men's basketball program's general manager. After a long career in the NBA and working on ESPN as a TV personality, Perkins will add another aspect of the basketball world to his resume.

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins – 14-year NBA veteran and 2008 champion – has agreed to become the men's basketball General Manager of HBCU Jackson State, as well as a connection to its broadcast and journalism program, per Perkins: "I'm thankful for this opportunity to impact… pic.twitter.com/lTHV4tSn3a

The new front office position with the Tigers is not expected to affect his current role at ESPN, so expect a continuation of Perkins' personality on the screen. The notability of Perkins' name may also be utilized for recruiting to the school, which is another reason why the former center may have been hired.

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What does a college basketball GM do?

In college basketball, general managers are usually in charge of recruiting and building a roster ahead of each season. In recent years, the position has often been given to a school's notable basketball alumni to try and grow recruiting numbers (Stephen Curry at Davidson, Damian Lillard at Weber State).

When Lillard was hired at Weber State, it was expected that the Portland Trail Blazer would "work closely with the coaching staff and athletic department leadership to provide insight, mentorship and guidance, using his experience at the collegiate and professional levels to elevate the program," per Deseret News.

Is Kendrick Perkins leaving ESPN?

No, at the moment, it does not appear that Perkins will be leaving his post as a basketball analyst for ESPN. According to Charania, Perkins will keep his current position at ESPN, along with working as the general manager for the general manager of the men's basketball program.

Perkins adds the new GM role to his ESPN position and becomes the latest retired or active NBA player to take an administrative position in college basketball, joining most recently John Wall (HBCU Howard), Stephen Curry (Davidson), Trae Young (Oklahoma) and others.

Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Trae Young also work in administrative positions but still maintain their roles in the NBA.

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Jackson State 2025-26 record

Jackson State finished with a 12-21 record after the 2025-26 season, according to ESPN. Four of the Tigers' opening six losses in a row came from ranked opponents (No. 17 Illinois, No. 11 Louisville, No. 22 Auburn, and No. 21 Arkansas).

Jackson State also had the misfortune of sharing the court with No. 7 Houston, a game that resulted in an 80-38 blowout.

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