Despite his collegiate success, Childs went undrafted in the 1989 NBA draft and began his professional career in the Continental Basketball Association.

With the Thunder, Childs won a league title and the Continental Basketball Association MVP award in 1994 after averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists.

[1] According to Quad City Thunder owner Anne Potter DeLong's obituary on QCOnline, Childs struggled with alcoholism during his time in the Continental Basketball Association.

However, Childs was perhaps best remembered for his five-year (1996–2001) tenure with the New York Knicks, who relied on his tight defense and streaky three-point shooting ability during their perennial runs to the NBA playoffs.

In February 2001, Childs was traded to the Toronto Raptors for Mark Jackson and Muggsy Bogues,[4] with whom he played for one-and-a-half seasons before rejoining the Nets in 2002.