In the heat of the 2007 NBA playoffs, tensions between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns reached a boiling point.  Amidst the fierce competition, a Suns player delivered a notorious hip-check on Steve Nash, etching the moment into basketball lore. This incident not only led to immediate ejections but also sparked debates that have simmered for nearly two decades. Now, the ex-Suns legend reignites the controversy, doubling down on his past actions and comments, bringing this 18-year-old scuffle back into the spotlight.​

The hip-check on Nash wasn’t a regular game altercation. It saw dreams slipping away. Back-to-back MVP Steve Nash led the Suns on a promising deep playoff run, but within minutes, their momentum crumbled. Phoenix fell in Game 5, and what could have been a defining title run turned into yet another postseason heartbreak.

Now, all these years later, Robert Horry is doubling down, claiming Nash wasn’t so innocent as everybody portrayed him. Suns fans still insist that the team was robbed, while others argue that Nash’s response contributed to the fallout. Either way, Horry’s assessment has revived an old controversy and shown that after almost two decades, some NBA arguments never perish.

Rob Jenners and Brandon Harper recently conversed on the @bigshotbobpod. In a clip shared via Robert Horry’s Instagram story, Jenners asked Robert Horry about the infamous tackle during the 2007 playoffs. Robert Horry replied affirmatively: “All that acting he was doing, all that flopping he did on that. Cause I ain’t hit him that hard. Because he’s a flopper…. I went over there and just stood still. Hey, I called it the wall and the tennis ball. I was just bracing for the tennis ball to hit this wall [hand gesture]. You see who bounced off me? I didn’t even move. Get off me, little s–t.”  Reminiscing the infamous tackle that caused Horry’s ejection from the game and a two-game suspension.

Upon hearing what Big Shot Bob had to say, Rob Jenners commented, “Be careful. He’s hosting that podcast with LeBron now. They may come for you buddy. That’s what I am saying. Playfully poking Robert Horry that his actions might catch up with him in an unprecedented way. Robert Horry replied, “Man, Steve Nash is my rookie. We, me, and Steve Nash are cool as sh*t man”, talking about his seniority over Steve Nash, and the cordial bond they share.

That tackle sent ripples through the NBA. And as it was, there was an unprecedented response from the NBA for a foul that hardly warranted such a reaction. Let us take a look at how the dominoes fell after the tackle.

One foul, many repercussions: Robert Horry and beyond

When Robert Horry hockey-checked Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash into the scorer’s table in Game 4 of the Spurs-Suns 2007 playoff series, it became an event for Suns fans that exacerbated their hate for San Antonio. Robert Horry was immediately ejected. Then subsequently banned for the following two games. Namely, Game 5 and Game 6.

To the shock of many, two Suns players – Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire – were also suspended. Their offense? Simply stepping off the bench in response to the altercation. The NBA’s strict enforcement of its rulebook left Phoenix shorthanded, and their Game 5 loss ultimately sealed their fate.

Now, the NBA’s reaction to the foul, inciting hate for the Spurs, came from the NBA’s rulebook. The rule book explains, “During an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be suspended, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $50,000. The suspension will commence prior to the start of their next game.” This, honestly, justifies the reaction by the NBA. But what is surprising is the strict adherence to the rule book, given the circumstances.

A single hip-check, a split-second decision, and an 18-year-old playoff foul still echo through NBA history. The Suns’ dreams were shattered. The Spurs went on to claim another title. And Robert Horry solidified his reputation as a cold-blooded postseason disruptor.

Now, with his latest comments, the scuffle is back in the spotlight. Now that’s proof that in basketball, the past never truly stays in the past.