Former New York Knicks guard Chris Childs was a fiery competitor, but his best memory to date was two-piecing Kobe Bryant back in April 2000. At only 6’3 Childs versus Bryant at 6’6 you would think would be a lob-sided advantage for the Mamba.
The problem was the shorter Childs landed some nice punches owning the young Laker, leaving Kobe in circles.
Childs spoke with the Anthony Donahue of Knicks Blog Radio on why him and Bryant got into their famous altercation.
“He was a young player at the time. He had to challenge someone. I happened to be that guy.
“A couple of times going around screens, I played tight defense, it’s physical down there and he hit me with an elbow. I’m fine with that, but don’t do it above the shoulders.’’
Childs said he asked the officials: “Are you going to do anything about this? They put their hands up: ‘What you want me do?’
“‘No problem, I’ll take care of that.’ I said: ‘Young fella, do that again, there’s going to be a problem.’ [Kobe said]: ‘What are you going to do?’
“We go around the pick and he hit me again. By that time, enough is enough. I’m back home. This young guy is trying me. I walk up to him — if you watch it, he hits me with a little shoulder. He’s 6-6. I’m 6-3 at the time. I got to get him off of me. I give him a little head nudge. From that point on, it’s game on. I took a few boxing lessons. I know how to defend myself.
“When I hit him, I didn’t want to hurt him. I knew he was an up-and-coming guy. I remember back in the day watching Kermit Washington hit Rudy T [with an infamous punch during a game in 1977]. I didn’t want to get that label of hurting a guy’s career. So I just happened to tap him and let him know you’re trying the wrong guy.’”
Listening to Childs’ story seems like Kobe was trying to get his feet wet by intimidating him, but that backfired on him.
Childs brings up the ugly incident of the Rudy Tomjanovich incident that ended his NBA career, but he implies that could of been a similar faith for Bryant.
Maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but I guess will never know.