November 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, left) shakes hands with Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24, right) before the game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA star Stephen Curry has silenced a lot of doubters after winning his fourth title in eight seasons and adding an NBA Finals MVP award that eluded him for so long.

Conversations have begun on where the Golden State Warriors‘ sharpshooter ranks among the league’s all-time greatest players. Some say he’s right up there with the greats like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. However, the one pundit who may have the hottest take drew some backlash from Los Angeles Lakers fans.

On a recent episode of First Take, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins was asked by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo who he’d take if he wanted to start a franchise with- Curry or the late, great Kobe Bryant. After a bit of a pause, big Perk says he’s taking the two-time league MVP.

“I’m taking Curry,” Perkins said. “It’s not an easy one to answer.”

Big Perk isn’t exactly a favorite among Lakers fans, having been a part of those early 2010s bouts between Los Angeles and the Boston Celtics. This recent hot take is only going to further decrease his likability with them and Kobe fans.

Bryant, who tragically lost his life in a helicopter accident in 2020, was named to 18 All-Star teams and won two scoring titles during his Hall of Fame NBA career. He was a five-time NBA champion and won the NBA Finals MVP award twice.

As for Curry, he’s considered the greatest shooter of all-time, and while he’s joked about being a two-way player, he doesn’t possess the skills Bryant had on the defensive side of the ball. Bryant was named to an All-Defensive team 12 times in his career.

It’s hard to fault Perkins for his choice, especially with how much Curry has changed the game, but fans can’t forget how dominant Bryant was in his prime.

During his playing career, Bryant averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from beyond the arc. He’s easily one of the greatest players in Lakers and in NBA history.