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Lakers' Clarkson: Kobe told me to always keep my hands up

Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Say what you want about Jordan Clarkson, but he's not one to back down from an opponent.

The Lakers guard took things to the next level on Friday night by squaring up during an altercation with Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic.

Related: Spoelstra lambastes 'disgraceful' decision to eject Dragic

While Clarkson may have looked a little ridiculous, he said his former teammate taught him the importance of keeping his hands up.

"It was one of those things where he was running at me," Clarkson told Mark Medina of The Orange County Register. "I didn’t know what he was going to do. So I put my hands up to defend myself. I went back to stuff Kobe (Bryant) told me about an incident he had. He said to never have your hands down in case something happens."

Kobe was likely referring to his fight with Chris Childs back in 2000, when he allowed the then-New York Knicks guard to land a series of punches on him.

Clarkson may have been ejected Friday night, but at least he left unscathed.

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