Brian Babineau/NBAE/GettyKendrick Perkins says rehab is going well.

SLAM: How you feeling right now? How’s the rehab going?

Kendrick Perkins: It’s going great, man. I’m going to rehab everyday. It’s getting a whole lot better. I’m walking without crutches and a brace, so things are moving along. I’m not rushing anything, but things are moving at a great pace.

SLAM: Is the rehab painful at all? Do you have to push yourself through it?

KP: It’s not as bad as everybody thinks. It’s difficult, obviously, but it’s not as bad as people think. If you mentally strong, you can get through it.
... SLAM: When Tony Allen left the team, he said he kind of felt overshadowed by some of the other stars on the team. Do you ever feel that way?

KP: Nah. I feel like without them, we wouldn’t be in the position that we are in right now. Without the Big Three forming, we wouldn’t get the TV pub that you get, and everything else you get. So it’s kind of hard to say, “overshadowing.” You’re really supposed to be kinda grateful to be in that situation.

SLAM: But do you ever wish that you got more touches or more love?

KP: Nah, not really. That’s not how our chemistry is. You’ve been in our locker room, you know how we roll. There’s only one goal; so at times you want to get better as an individual, but then there’s times that you’ll be in situations you’ve never been in before. Like, there’s not too many times where you could be on a team that has a chance to win the title. So why not take advantage of it? I feel like stats are overrated, because stats—you could have an impact of the game and not have a huge number of stats. I feel like stats are overrated because—they just are.
... SLAM: I agree with you, stats are overrated. But they also will get you paid, right? That’s what people look for come contract time.

KP: Nah, not really. I feel like they already know what they want and who they want, and they’re gonna pay who they want. Because certain people who got paid this summer ain’t have no huge stats and they got nice pay-days, you know what I’m saying?

SLAM: True. Everyone got paid this summer, right?

KP: That’s what I’m telling you. So the owners and general managers, they pretty much know two-three years ahead who they got plans on signing or what type of player they’re looking for. It ain’t really about the stats; it’s really about the position and if you can fit for a certain ballclub. That’s really what it’s all about. And to say you got overlooked a little bit—I ain’t trying to go against TA—but without them, people probably wouldn’t even know your name. We wouldn’t be on TV as much, or anything like that. So don’t take situations for granted. That’s why I say you should be grateful for every opportunity.

SLAM: So you think it’ll be a little different this coming season?

KP: Well, I mean, we didn’t do nothing spectacular. We got Shaq, we got Delonte [West], we got J.O. [Jermaine O’Neal]. But it ain’t like we signed no young Dwight Howards or anything like that. So if anything we just got older. But we still got a lot of talent. So we got older but we got a lot of talent and a lot of experience, so that’s gonna help us a lot. And a lot of guys with chips on their shoulder, so that’s what’s gonna really help.

SLAM: What about you? When you come back, you gonna have a chip?

KP: I don’t have a choice. I don’t have a choice but to have a chip on my shoulder.