Robert Horry, seven-time NBA title winner, is taking no chances with his extensive collection of championship memories.
“I keep my rings in a safe,” the former Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs forwards told DailyMail.com. “I’m the only one with a key.”
Horry has good reasons to be cautious. While he didn’t mention Derek Fisher’s five stolen championship rings, the 2020 burglary of his former Lakers teammate’s home serves as a cautionary tale for athletes. According to TMZ, Fisher allegedly stole a total of more than $300,000 worth of jewelry and other goods from his home.
Similarly, Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing had two Olympic gold medals and the NCAA championship ring he won at Georgetown was stolen from his New York home, the former Knicks center told The Dan Patrick Show in 2020. Luckily for Ewing, someone tried to sell his NCAA championship ring online, and he was able to get it back.
The discussion about Horry’s seven rings surfaced when he announced his upcoming role in the second season of ‘Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test,” a Fox reality show where celebrities undergo military special forces training. The new season starts on September 25.
Robert Horry recently took part in the second season of Fox’s ‘Special Forces’
To his surprise, the intensity of the competition and the camaraderie between games compared favorably to that of his former NBA teams.
“I don’t think it was like a normal show where you win, you just want to finish and we wanted everyone to cross the finish line together,” he told DailyMail.com.
“And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of people come together before us. I’ve been on a lot of teams and I think this team has rooted together more than any team I’ve ever been a part of. And it was just an amazing experience to see so many people.
“…I thought they all knew each other,” he said of the other participants. “They say, ‘No, we don’t know each other.’ And it was so cool: not knowing each other, but coming together and supporting each other, trying to get through this whole competition.”
Horry won two rings in Houston, three in Los Angeles and a few more in San Antonio
The first season of the competition featured one athlete, former American football player Carli Lloyd, and a Bachelor star, Hannah Brown.
It also included former NBA star Dwight Howard and Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza.
The season 2 cast includes former Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, actress Tara Reid, model Blac Chyna and Ozzy Osbourne’s son, Jack.
Horry is known to basketball fans as “Big Shot Bob” for his clutch 16 playoff runs. Within the league, the 6-foot-4 forward was also known for his steady defense and reliable inbounds passing, which ingratiated him to Hall-of-Fame teammates like Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Hakeem Olajuwon .
Lakers teammates (from left): Tyronn Lue, Brian Shaw, Horry, Shaquille O’Neal and Ron Harper
As for the upcoming NBA season, Horry likes Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, thanks in large part to the Greek Freak’s versatility and durability.
“If you look at the way the league is constructed and health is a big issue, a lot of guys get injured and I still like the way Giannis plays,” Horry said. “When you see him play, I think the season is only three weeks away. He plays so hard every night and he is able to change a game both defensively and offensively.
“So I just think Milwaukee always has that edge because they came into their team and they have three of the best defensive players in the league.”
Horry did not specify which Bucks players he believes are the best defenders, but he was likely referring to veteran guard Jrue Holiday and center Brook Lopez, both of whom were named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2023, as well as Antetokounmpo.