Former NBAer Samaki Walker is on a bit of a media blitz, and the big fella has a fascinating Kobe Bryant story to share.
Walker, a former teammate of Kobe’s on the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000’s, confirms that Bryant sucker-punched him after impatiently demanding payment on a $100 debt (Bean had won a halfcourt shooting contest the day prior at practice.)
Regardless, Samaki says that The Black Mamba (along with Tim Duncan) is the greatest player he’s ever hooped with.
Per Brown and Scoop (via 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,” Walker said. “Out of nowhere. I’m sitting down on the bus and I said this man is crazy.”
Eventually, Walker says (Shaquille O’Neal’s) bodyguard, Jerome, got Kobe to apologize.
