It was just a preseason game. October 2002. Most players are usually just trying to get their cardio in and avoid a rolled ankle before the real lights turn on. But when the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers met at Staples Center, there was no such thing as "just preseason." The air was still thick with the resentment of the 2002 Western Conference Finals—a series many Kings fans still swear was stolen by some of the most controversial officiating in NBA history.
Then it happened. Doug Christie and Rick Fox got into it.
It started with a play at the elbow. Fox, known for being a physical, "cerebral" defender (which is often code for "dirty" depending on who you ask), caught Christie with an elbow. Christie sold the contact and hit the floor. When he got up, Fox shoved him in the face.
The reaction was instantaneous. Christie uncorked a left uppercut that landed flush on Fox’s jaw.
The Punch Heard ‘Round the 916
Most NBA fights are a lot of jersey-tugging and "hold me back" posturing. This wasn't that. Christie’s punch was a clean, technical strike that caught everyone off guard. It was the kind of moment that crystallized the entire Kings-Lakers rivalry. It wasn't just two players; it was a frustrated franchise finally swinging back at the juggernaut.
Both players were tossed, obviously. But usually, that’s where the story ends. The players go to their respective locker rooms, cool off, and wait for the league office to call. Not this time.
Rick Fox didn't go to his locker room. He took a shortcut through the Staples Center hallways to intercept Christie.
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Chaos in the Staples Center Tunnel
The tunnel scene was like something out of a movie, but way more disorganized. Fox sprinted through the back corridors to catch Christie as he was being escorted out. When they met, it turned into a full-blown wrestling match near the loading docks.
Picture this:
- Shaquille O’Neal, who was out with a toe injury and wearing a massive suit, came lumbering down the hall to play peacemaker (or enforcer).
- Jackie Christie, Doug’s wife, was right in the thick of it, famously using her purse to help defend her husband.
- Kings security and Lakers staff were tangled in a heap while Fox tried to land a jump kick.
"Rick would always do little stuff," Christie told the Habershow podcast years later. He described Fox’s habit of pivoting into defenders' thighs—small, painful nudges that didn't show up in the box score but wore you down. That night, the "little stuff" finally boiled over.
Why Doug Christie and Rick Fox Still Matter
You might wonder why we’re still talking about a 20-year-old exhibition game brawl. Honestly, it’s because the NBA doesn't feel like this anymore. Today’s league is built on "banana boat" friendships and jersey swaps. Back then, these teams genuinely loathed one another.
The fallout was significant. The NBA handed Rick Fox a six-game suspension, while Christie got two games. Stu Jackson, then the NBA's VP of basketball operations, called Fox’s decision to hunt Christie down in the tunnel "egregious." It set a tone for the 2002-03 season, proving that the Kings weren't going to be intimidated, even if they never did manage to get past the Lakers when it counted most.
The Legacy of the Rivalry
Interestingly, Doug Christie eventually found his way back to the Kings as a coach. In 2024 and 2025, he’s been on the sidelines, often mentioned as a stabilizing force for a young Sacramento roster. He’s the guy who teaches them about "standing your ground," though hopefully without the uppercuts.
Rick Fox, meanwhile, took a completely different path. He leaned into the "Zoolander" persona the fans used to mock him for, becoming a successful actor and a pioneer in the eSports world with Echo Fox.
They’ve both mellowed. Mostly. But you won't see them grabbing dinner anytime soon.
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Actionable Takeaways for NBA Fans
If you're looking back at this era of basketball, there are a few things to keep in mind about how the game has evolved:
- Rivalries have shifted: Modern "rivalries" are often driven by social media narratives rather than physical on-court beef. To understand why fans are so nostalgic for the early 2000s, look at the lack of post-game fraternization in old Kings-Lakers clips.
- Security protocols: The "Tunnel Fight" changed how arenas handle ejections. You’ll notice now that players are escorted by multiple security guards through specific, separate routes to ensure they never cross paths behind the scenes.
- Defensive philosophy: Study Christie’s film if you want to see how a "Lakers-stopper" operated. He was one of the few guards who could actually bother Kobe Bryant, using his length and lateral quickness without needing to be 250 pounds.
If you want to understand the modern Kings' identity, look into Christie's current role as a coach in Sacramento. His transition from the team's "enforcer" to a tactical mentor explains a lot about the franchise's current culture of grit.