More than 20 years after their heated altercation at Staples Center, Chris Childs still recalls Kobe Bryant—not for the fight itself, but for the respect it grew from.
Their clash in April 2000 remains one of the most replayed NBA fights in history, with Childs landing a two-piece combination on the young Bryant. Despite the intensity, Childs says it was never personal.
“We never sat down and talked about it; we were competitors,” Childs said recently, according to NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “We weren’t friends. We didn’t go to dinner, but we had mutual respect for each other as far as how we played the game and how we prepared.”
The NBA was more physical then, with players battling for respect on every possession rather than sharing postgame handshakes. Bryant, only 21 at the time, was already showing the traits that would define his Hall of Fame career.
Childs, known for his toughness, recognized that same fire in Bryant. Their fight was a clash of wills, not a grudge.
As Bryant went on to win five NBA titles, two Olympic gold medals, and an MVP award, Childs admired how Kobe pushed the game forward.
“If I can take a fraction of that and give back to the community; give back to girls basketball and give back to what I do which is mentoring young men and trying to help them become exceptional men,” Childs said, “then I’ve done his legacy proud.”
Today, Childs focuses on mentoring youth and coaching, teaching lessons in resilience and discipline inspired by his time on the court and Bryant’s example.
Bryant’s death in January 2020 deeply affected Childs. “His untimely death was unfortunate. Time stopped, I stopped,” he reflected.
