Heckler shoved a former 7-time NBA champ, and he responded with a flurry of punches

He finished his career with 7,715 points (7.0 PPG), 5,269 rebounds (4.8 RPG) and 2,343 assists (2.1 APG).

You don't mess with an NBA legend.

One heckler found that out the hard way during a basketball tournament in Los Angeles this weekend after antagonizing and shoving 7-time NBA Champion Robert Horry.

Horry, whose son was playing in the tournament, retaliated with a flurry of punches and told TMZ that he acted in self defense, claiming the man has been verbally-abusive towards him in the past.

Per TMZ:

Witnesses tell us a man affiliated with the opposing team was heckling Horry throughout the game when he approached R.H. and pushed him.

Horry responded with his fists ... throwing several punches at the man. It's unclear if any of the punches landed.

"The guy was trash talking the whole game. He shoved me. Where I'm from, you protect yourself."

R.H. — a 7x NBA champion — says he ultimately decided to walk away rather than continue to fight, knowing he was "the only one who was gonna lose in this situation."

Horry played in the NBA for 17 seasons as a member of the Houston Rockets (1992-96), Phoenix Suns (1996-97), Los Angeles Lakers (1997-2003) and San Antonio Spurs (2003-08) and won multiple NBA Championships with three teams.

He finished his career with 7,715 points (7.0 PPG), 5,269 rebounds (4.8 RPG) and 2,343 assists (2.1 APG).