Ex-Lakers Forward Claims Kobe Bryant Sucker-Punched Him Over $100 Bet
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A former Los Angeles Lakers forward says Kobe Bryant once sucker-punched him over a $100 wager.
Samaki Walker, who played for the Lakers in 2001-02 and five other teams over 10 NBA seasons, made the allegation on the Brown and Scoop podcast on CBS Radio's Play.it network.
The incident allegedly stems from a reported 2002 incident between the two that left Walker with a black eye and one which former coach Phil Jackson once referred to as "juvenile stuff" and an "isolated incident".
According to Walker, Bryant gave him a deadline to pay up after losing a shooting contest.
"We got into it. I'm still figuring it out to this day," Walker said. "Real talk, it was one of the craziest, most immature situations, because the situation, from what I understand, was over 100 bucks.
"He won the half-court contest and the rule is...you get 48 hours to pay the $100. There wasn't even 48 hours. Kobe comes to me on the bus and asked me where his 100 bucks are and believe it or not, out of all the people he chose me, which to me, to this day, is puzzling," added Walker.
But "all hell broke loose" once Bryant came to collect the cash, according to Walker.
"I told him, 'Listen' - we were going to shoot-around at the time, 'man I don't have no 100 bucks on me right now'," Walker said. "First of all, why did he come after me for 100 bucks? With that being said, I put my earphones back on."
That's when Walker says "the most amazing thing happened."
"Kobe, he sucker punched me," Walker said. "All hell broke loose. Real talk, all hell broke loose. It was a sucker punch. Right to the face. Out of nowhere.
"There were some situations with Kobe and what was going on with his wife and the parents and things being said that was all his business, but was making it out publicly and I just happened to come to the team at a unique time, which all this stuff was manifesting, and guess got caught up in."
Walker further claimed Shaquille O'Neal's bodyguard actually intervened to keep him from fighting back.
The Kobe confrontation account begins at the 7:15 mark of the interview.
