How Kobe Bryant’s ‘Bare-Fisted’ Brawl with 6ft 3″ Knicks Guard Bought Him Much-Needed Acceptance From Shaquille O’Neal’s Lakers: “Our Little Brother”

In 2000, a young Kobe Bryant was yet to earn the validation of his Lakers teammates, particularly from Shaquille O’Neal. It took a bare-fisted brawl with 6ft 3in New York Knicks guard – Chris Childs to earn the acceptance of the big fellow. The book ‘Three-Ring Circus‘, talks about how Shaq called him his little brother after the incident and vowed to defend him.

Kobe Bryant had won his first championship ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999 and was looking to repeat the following season. The Shaq-Kobe duo was winning headlines with their dominant performances. During their game against the New York Knicks, Kobe would get into the first brawl of his NBA career against a lesser-known Childs.

How did Kobe Bryant get into a brawl?

Kobe was being his usual self on the court, competing hard against the New York Knicks while jawing at the point guard of the Knicks team. In a play during the offense, Kobe got into with Chris after a physical play led to blows being exchanged. The Knicks player hit Kobe with two punches on his neck and chin. This started a brawl which resulted in both players getting ejected.

However, Kobe’s teammates had his back and stood up for the young player. Among others, O’Neal and Patrick Ewing got into a scuffle of their own. The book details the events that transpired, and how his teammates were ready to defend him. Here is an excerpt from the book:

“Both players were ejected in the 106–82 Los Angeles win, but it was what happened next that felt remarkable. Rick Fox barked at Childs as he left the court. O’Neal shoved Ewing. Jackson scowled at Van Gundy. In the locker room afterwards, one Laker after another whispered into Bryant’s ear, assuring him they all had his back. “That’s our little brother right there,” Fox said.”

Shaq being the leader, was the most animated during the incident. He carried a responsibility to protect his teammates, especially the young ones. The incident brought the two closer and developed a relationship to be cherished. Here is what Shaq had to say after the incident:

“As big brothers, you don’t let somebody pick on your little brother. Everyone knows Kobe’s a clean-cut guy. But he had somebody punching in his face, he had to do something about it. I was just trying to protect my little brother. If something crazy would happen, I would defend him . . . But Kobe’s a tough kid, he protected himself.”

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s future relationship

The Lakers not only won the game against the Knicks but also their second consecutive championship in 2000. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant would add another ring to three-peat as a duo and officially cement their place in the history books as the greatest duo in basketball. The hoopla, however, would not last long in LA.

The aftermath of the 2001 championship would result in the breakup of the dynamic pairing due to irreconcilable differences. Despite the camaraderie shown throughout the season, the off-court drama would take center stage resulting in Shaq requesting a trade. The league would breathe a sigh of relief as the pair were near impossible to beat.