Kobe Bryant’s Brutal Sucker Punch Over $100 Revealed by Former Laker

Former teammates at the Los Angeles Lakers Samaki Walker and Kobe Bryant were both drafted in the 1996 NBA draft as the 9th and the 13th pick overall pick respectively. Bryant was drafted to the Lakers while Walker was drafted to the Dallas Mavericks.

The two eventually teamed up when Walker was signed by the Lakers on free agency in the 2001 offseason. The two spent two seasons together, lifting the NBA Championship in 2002, which was Walker’s first season with the Lakers.

Despite being a higher draft pick compared to Kobe Bryant, Samaki Walker did not have the same success and accolades that Bryant had achieved throughout his career. While Walker did play a role in helping the Lakers win a championship in 2002, he was seen more as a journeyman as he played in various clubs in the NBA as well as internationally.

Meanwhile, Bryant has gone on to become one of the greatest and most competitive players to ever play the game of basketball. Beyond his performances and accolades, he was also regarded as one of the most influential figures in the NBA.

He spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, winning five NBA Championships, two Finals MVPs, one league-MVP, two scoring titles to go along with numerous other accolades and breaking several records.

Bryant has been regarded as a tough competitor as well as a teammate. Due to his hyper-competitiveness, Bryant has often clashed with his teammates by calling them out and demanding more from them. Some thrived off of it while some were not fans of his method of approach.

Walker made an appearance on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast and shared a story about the time when Bryant sucker punched him.

Everybody’s shooting the long shot, $100. So for $100, if you make it you get the pot. So long story short, Kobe ended up winning the pot. The rule is you have 48 hours to pay and then you good. Kobe’s like, ‘Hey man, you got my money.’ I said, ‘Man, I ain’t got my wallet with me. I got you when we get back.’ And so I put my headphones back on, and bow! He took off them. I’m like what the f—k just happen.

Former Laker Samaki Walker tells story where Kobe Bryant sucker punched him over $100 😳

“We’re doing a shooting thing for $100. You make it you get the pot. Kobe won the pot. Rule is you got 48 hours to pay. I never heard a story where somebody didn’t pay $100. The next day on… pic.twitter.com/YDsuToDpku

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) December 23, 2025

Walker was absolutely livid and wanted to kill Bryant, but was stopped by all his teammates, and he could not get to Bryant. Eventually, both of them spoke out and settled the matter.

Pau Gasol on his time with Kobe Bryant

While Bryant may not have made many friends during his time in the NBA, he did make one in Pau Gasol. Gasol spent six seasons with Bryant and the Lakers, winning back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. Their bond extended beyond the court, and they became more like brothers.

Gasol sat down for an interview with Clutchpoints’ Rob Lepelstat and spoke about his time with Bryant with the Lakers.

From the moment I arrived in Los Angeles in 2008, he set the tone. One of the first things he told me was, ‘Let’s go win the championship.’ His leadership defined our partnership. He challenged me every single day to be better and tougher. And I embraced it. I wanted to be the best that I could be so I could help the team accomplish the ultimate goal: winning the ring.

Gasol went on to speak about his relationship with the five-time NBA Champion.

Beyond basketball, we built a very special bond. We trusted each other, pushed each other, and ultimately won two championships together. That connection, that chemistry—it’s something truly special, and I’ll cherish it forever.

Their partnership proved to be successful as Gasol was the perfect fit and complimented Bryant’s style of play.

Kobe Bryant took seven years to acknowledge Jamal Crawford

Former NBA player and the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft, Jamal Crawford, has often praised Bryant for his achievements and work ethic. Crawford is one of the few players to go up against Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

The three-time Sixth Man of the Year spoke about his duel with Bryant at the Garden in 2007. It was the game when Bryant became the youngest player to score 20,000 points.

After the game, this video of it actually came, he gave me dap & said ‘good game my brother’ and he grabbed my head. I was in the league 7 years before he acknowledged he knew I existed.

"After the game he gave me dap & said 'good game my brother'

"I was in the league 7 years before he acknowledged he knew I existed"😆

– Jamal Crawford on his duel with Kobe Bryant in the Garden this day in 2007 when Kobe became the youngest to score 20K pic.twitter.com/3D3yyJylKH

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 23, 2025

Lakers ended up defeating the New York Knicks 95-90 in a game where Bryant scored a game-high 39 points while Crawford scored a team-high 31 points.

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