NBA journeyman Samaki Walker was fortunate enough to play for the Lakers from 2001 to 2003, where he won a championship ring and also earned a punch directly in the face from living legend, Kobe Bryant. The punch was apparently over ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
Does it get any more Kobe Bryant than belting someone in the face over $100? That’s the equivalent of an average person on the street punching someone over a borrowed nickel they neglected to pay in due time.
Here’s what triggered the incident. On occasion, following practice, the Lakers would have a little lighthearted fun by conducting a half-court shot contest where each player participating would throw in $100. Whoever hit it first would collect from each guy. Pretty simple, standard NBA stuff. From TMZ:
Walker told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson and Jake Brown that Kobe confronted him on the team bus and hit him up for the cash … and when Walker told him he’d pay him later, Kobe unleashed the fist.
“It was a sucker punch. Right to the face. Out of nowhere. I’m sitting down on the bus and I said this man is crazy.”
It seems kind of sad that it took Walker getting punched in the face over $100 to deem Kobe Bryant a crazy person. If he were smart, he would’ve hit up the ATM as soon as he left the Lakers practice facility. No delays with Kobe, man. Get him the damn ball and get him his damn money. Even if it’s pocket change for an NBA star.
According to Walker, Kobe eventually apologized and, although I don’t have a source to confirm it, I’m absolutely sure it was sincere.
[H/T TMZ]