Robin Lopez: ‘I Overreacted’ Smacking Chris Paul
By William Lee
Robin Lopez admits to overreacting, smacking Chris Paul in the face.
Friday night the New York Knicks hosted the Los Angeles Clippers in Madison Square Garden.
It was a fairly close game despite the Clippers making the game look like a three-point shootout and dunk contest… The Knicks were as close as within five points but midway through the third quarters, tempers flared.
Robin Lopez smacked Chris Paul across the face after a battle for the rebound. Lopez was ejected out of the game after a very lengthy official review, which led to the crowd getting restless and booing.
Lopez admitted to overreacting, smacking Paul in the face per Howie Kussoy and Marc Berman of the New York Post.
"“I think there were a lot of underhanded things going on both ways [and] I just made the mistake of being a little less subtle than everybody else, to say the least,”“Things were getting pretty chippy out there. It happened so fast, it’s kind of hard to recall, but maybe I overreacted a little bit. But what happened, happened. I’m OK with it.”"
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“A lot of underhanded things”, Paul is infamous for being a pest and Friday night was another evidence of that. It is good to see the fire and desire from Lopez, but he kind of went a little overboard.
DeAndre Jordan immediately came to the rescue of his point guard, shoving Lopez in the back. Lopez said there is no ill-will between the two centers, that things just got out of hand.
"“It’s nothing personal, at least not for me,”“I played against DeAndre for a long time now. I know him. It was nothing personal, just a heat-of-the-moment thing.”"
The interesting thing about the two centers is that Jordan was the Knicks’ first choice during this past summer’s free agency. Jordan said he had a great meeting with the Knicks, and that he “loved” New York. Lopez actually committed to the Knicks, but New York would not commit to him until they were absolutely sure they were out of the Jordan sweepstakes.
Both Jordan and Lopez received a double-technical for the altercation between the two centers. Jordan was upset that a big was picking on a small, and felt the need to protect his team’s leader.
"“I was just upset. Chris is the smallest dude on the floor, man,”“He’s one of our leaders so we have to protect him.”“But basketball is an emotional game. It got out of hand a little bit.”"
Even though things got heated, Jordan still was able to maintain his composure, saying he did not want to get ejected out of the game like Lopez did.
"“I didn’t want to get kicked out of the game because I like playing in New York,”More from Knicks NewsFormer New York Knicks center gets real about 2013 playoff shortcomingsWhen is the deadline for the Knicks to extend Immanuel Quickley?How to watch New York Knicks players compete for bronze at World Cup3 Reasons Tom Thibodeau can’t ignore Miles McBride in 2023-24Knicks fans get super anticlimactic ending to 2023 FIBA World Cup“It’s fun here.”"
It sure was fun for Jordan… the big man finished the game with seven dunks! Jordan finished the game with 20 points and 8 rebounds. At one point in the first quarter, the Clippers’ big man had three consecutive… hosting a dunk contest in MSG…
Jordan added that his damsel in distress should pay for his fine for coming to his rescue.
"“(Paul) better pay for my tech, man,”"
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Luckily for New York, there does not seem to be any additional penalties for the Lopez-Paul altercation.