During a recent appearance on “Gil’s Arena,” Vernon Maxwell recounted an explosive story from his time with the Seattle Supersonics during the 1999-2000 season. Known for his fiery demeanor, “Mad Max” shared how he ended up knocking out his teammate Gary Payton in practice after an incident that left him fuming.
“Gary looked back, got the ball, and just turned around and knocked the sh*t out of Shammond. He busted. him wide open. Blood was everywhere, coming through his fingers, all over the floor.”
“That pissed me off so bad. I was mad as hell. I really wanted to hurt that boy because, first of all, Shammond was a young black man coming into the league. God damn, man, show the man some respect, help him out.”
“You don’t have to do that. I got the ball, drove to the basket, and Gary tripped me. I got up and said, ‘Didn’t I tell you?’”
“Then I just ran at him and hit him with a bunch of blows, pulled his jersey over his head, and slammed him down in front of the owner, the general manager, and Westphal. I was sitting on his chest, beating him some more until Chuck Person knocked me off him.”
Vernon Maxwell tells Gil's Arena podcast the story of how he knocked out Gary Payton in front of everybody during a scrimmage and says it's on sight whenever he sees him again. pic.twitter.com/55WqvYkyW5
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The story began with Payton, a renowned trash-talker and fierce competitor, ignoring advice from friends to steer clear of provoking Maxwell. During one particular practice, tensions reached a boiling point when Payton hit rookie Shammond Williams in the face, leaving him bleeding. Williams, whom Maxwell was mentoring, became the unwitting catalyst for the ensuing conflict.
Determined to teach Payton a lesson, Maxwell approached head coach Paul Westphal and requested to guard Payton during the scrimmage. He warned that if Payton provoked him, he would retaliate. True to his word, when Payton tripped him during a drive to the basket, Maxwell saw red.
He attacked Payton, delivering a series of blows, pulling his jersey over his head, and slamming him down in front of team officials. The altercation only ended when teammate Chuck Person intervened.
The brawl didn’t end there. In the locker room, Maxwell and Payton clashed again, with the scuffle escalating to the point where Horace Grant, who tried to break it up, was inadvertently struck by a five-pound weight, injuring his shoulder and sidelining him for two weeks.
Maxwell’s account highlights the intense and often volatile nature of professional sports, where competitive spirits can sometimes lead to physical confrontations, even among teammates.
Vernon Maxwell On OJ Simpson Chase During The NBA Finals
During a recent appearance on “Gil’s Arena,” Vernon Maxwell shared his recollections of the 1994 NBA Finals, particularly the impact of the O.J. Simpson chase on the game. Maxwell described how the incident unfolded in the middle of a crucial timeout.
The players were suddenly informed that O.J. Simpson was on the run, being pursued by police down a highway. This unexpected news caught everyone off guard, creating a surreal atmosphere.
The players’ attention was momentarily diverted from the game as they processed the shocking news. The unusual distraction led to a brief discussion among the team members, highlighting the chase’s impact on their focus. The moment was so captivating that it even pulled the attention of the players away from their high-stakes game.
However, their coach, Rudy Tomjanovich, quickly intervened, urging the team to regain their focus. He reminded them that they were in the middle of the NBA Finals, emphasizing the importance of concentrating on the game. The team managed to pull themselves together and refocus on their immediate task.
Maxwell further elaborated on how the surreal nature of the situation continued after the game. Upon returning to their locker room, the players were again confronted with the unfolding drama on television. The chase dominated the news, and the players found themselves discussing the bizarre event and its implications.
The O.J. Simpson chase had an unprecedented effect on the game, blending real-world drama with the intensity of the NBA Finals. This intersection created a unique and memorable moment in sports history, illustrating how external events can impact athletes and their performance, even in the most critical situations.
Maxwell’s recounting of the event underscores the surreal atmosphere and the challenges of maintaining focus amid such extraordinary distractions.
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