Kendrick Perkins on growing up poor after personal tragedy in new book

After struggling to make ends meet with his grandparents, Perk wanted to give back via his basketball skills’ ability to bring in an income far beyond what he grew up with in terms of means.

Making nearly a million in his first year with the Celtics — having elected to skip college in part to get right to the pros and start making money — Perkins was pulling in close to double that by the end of his rookie deal three years later.

“A lot of lettuce in 2006 for a not-yet-22-year-old kid from Beaumont, Texas,” he offered in his book, which he used to take care of his grandparents.

Not every 1981 Boston Celtics champion was a fan of Bill Fitch’s coaching style https://t.co/h6ZKGsRPYs

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) January 12, 2023