Chris Paul Dissed By Pau Gasol: Clippers Star Upset With Lakers Center Over Head Touching (VIDEO)

Two seemingly non-confrontational NBA players had it out on Wednesday night over a perceived act of disrespect.

Late in the Lakers 96-91 victory over the Clippers, two players who were nearly traded for one another -- Chris Paul of the Clippers and Pau Gasol of the Lakers -- exchanged some heated words. According to the Los Angeles Times, Gasol reached down and rubbed Paul's head with 1.1 seconds left in the game, which sparked the disagreement.

It's anyone's guess as to why Gasol touched Paul's head, but in the video above it appears that Paul was calling the big man soft, -- a critique he's often heard throughout his career -- before the act took place.

"Don't touch the top of my head like I'm one of your kids," Paul said in the locker room after the game. "If you're a grown man I'm not going to put my hand on top of your head."

Gasol played down the incident when asked for his side of the story. "I'm sorry he felt that way. I do that all the time with my teammates," he explained. "It's OK, it's like if I touch your shoulder or your back, there's nothing mean about it."

The talent was already there for a good rivalry, but now that it's clear the two teams don't care for each other, we have the makings of something great brewing in Los Angeles.

WATCH VIDEO AT TOP

Comments

[Blair Epps]

03:07 PM on 01/29/2012

He need to stop crying. Gasol was displaying good sportsmanship. Get a grip.

[cbingrealz]

06:55 PM on 01/28/2012

The whole situation is childish. Even the reporters continuing to ask questions about the incident seemed a little immature. Gasol and Kobe are probably still bitter because the Chris Paul trade didn't work out for the Lakers

[beasteben]

01:49 PM on 01/28/2012

Show me on the bobble head where he touched you.

[Kenz300]

11:59 AM on 01/28/2012

Why can't we all just get along ? (Rodney King)

[butchcliff]

07:09 AM on 01/28/2012

Simply saying 'hey little guy'. Needn't take such offence. Wasn't such a bad incident.

[bmwracer]

01:02 AM on 01/28/2012

Paul was irked because they lost... Would he have felt the same if the Clips had won?

[blurredmolly]

07:31 PM on 01/27/2012

Gasol better watch out. I'll bet Chris Paul has some pop in that left hand.

[FreeSwingingSoul]

05:32 PM on 01/27/2012

"Don't touch the top of my head!"

That's how fights start with toddlers. These are grown men. CP3 was angry about the loss and this was simply misplaced aggression, just like toddlers tend to do. Millionaire jocks should act more like professionals, less like children. Or maybe CP3 should play up this side of his personality....he might score a good endoresement deal with Pampers.

[Kriol Kidd]

03:04 PM on 01/28/2012

Spoken perfectly like someone who has no clue what they are talking about...

[OhManOhMan]

03:58 PM on 01/27/2012

i bet they party together

[multiplicity2]

03:46 PM on 01/27/2012

It was clearly a conciliatory gesture on Gasol's part. I think there's a cultural misunderstanding here too. People from Europe--and especially Spain--are more accustomed to touch like this as an ordinary aspect of relating. Americans--especially red-blooded macho American athletes--are less so. Gasol was clearly not trying to patronize Paul, but Paul, through his own cultural-psychological lens, seems to have interpreted it that way.

[ATLBravesFan]

02:44 PM on 01/27/2012

"I'm sorry he felt that way. I do that all the time with my teammates,"

He's not your teammate.

[VTL]

04:59 PM on 01/27/2012

So what?

[RobietheCat]

09:51 PM on 01/27/2012

Why not an exact analogy, substitute "child," "wife," or "best friends."

Not appropriate. Or wise. Good for Pau he doesn't try that with Dwight Howard or Carmelo.

He knows he wouldn't try it with Carmelo.

[chucknchar t]

02:15 PM on 01/27/2012

He made the foul shot, thats all that matters

[SummerSolstice]

01:44 PM on 01/27/2012

1) They both disrespected each other (imho)

2) CP3, focus on staying healthy
(Thanks for the massive Fantasy Basketball points!)

3) Paul Gasol's brother, Marc Gasol, is way hotter!

[Kahnus Raiderus]

11:55 AM on 01/27/2012

You wouldn't do that to a Korean, its a sign of disrespect there too. And that's an entire penninsula. Whole countries have a thing about that. If Gasol ends up in an "accident" who would be surprised?

[Six Gator]

02:07 PM on 01/27/2012

some people dont honestly "know" every custom from every country, but it is generally expected that Americans "should" know...or, they are vilified whenever they dont fully understand or know; BAITED even.

If Mr Paul (sorry, using these acronyms ("CP3") is getting fn stupid already) really thinks this was disrespect, that's on him. You dont get to act like a jacka-- because you lost a game, on some lame interpretation. If you're a pouty b---h, you're a pouty b---h! _oh chit, I didn't disrespect the guy again, did i?...

[PoliSci2008]

06:17 PM on 01/27/2012

In the black community it is a sign of disrespect. Back in the day, white men would rub young black boys heads for goop luck. And from you comment, I see it is a global insult as well.

[RobietheCat]

09:54 PM on 01/27/2012

I am not sure, but it sounds about right and I don't doubt it.

It is the analogue to calling him 'boy.'

[kkdkdkdkdk]

11:32 AM on 01/27/2012

Touchy Touchy.