Former NBA player Zach Randolph detailed his infamous brawl with teammate Ruben Patterson during his rookie year with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The incident was discussed on a recent episode of “Podcast P,” presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, where Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George asked Randolph to recount the altercation.
“Can you tell us a little bit what happened there between you and Ruben [Patterson]?” George inquired. Randolph described Patterson as a bully, highlighting his physical strength and intimidating presence.
“Ruben is strong man. He just got done lifting weights, now he ain’t got no body fat. I’m 18, 19. This a grown man. I think he [was] probably 28, 30, 29,” Randolph explained. Patterson’s challenge in the locker room sparked the confrontation.
Randolph recalled the moment vividly, saying, “He come in the locker room, ‘can’t nobody slam me.’ After working out, we in the locker room…So I’m sitting around, I’m like, I’m from the hood. So I grew up locking up in the yard.”
Despite his youthful confidence, Randolph quickly learned the difference between teenage and grown man strength. “I stood up, try to grab him, we lock up, he slammed– he throwing me all in the lockers. Boom! Boom!” Randolph said.
The tussle escalated as Patterson continued to overpower Randolph. “He slammed me in the locker, boom, all over the locker room. Boom, boom, boom. So we get back to the middle,” Randolph recounted. The locker room floor, covered in carpet but with concrete underneath, added to the intensity of the fight.
Patterson ultimately overpowered Randolph, demonstrating the stark difference in physical maturity. “He dropped on me, grabbed my legs. Man, pick me up bro. Like this and thump me on my back like a WWE fool,” Randolph concluded.
Despite the altercation, Randolph went on to have a successful career, earning respect for his toughness and skill on the court.
