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Luis Scola Is Turning Into Some Kind Of International Basketball Punk

International basketball may be a collection of the world’s best players competing against each other, but it’s nothing like an All-Star Game. All-Star Games lack intensity, importance, and any discernible emotion. But, from watching just a few minutes of Olympic exhibition basketball, you can tell how much this means to all the players involved.

One guy it really means a lot to? Luis Scola, who is slowly building a reputation as an agitator in international play.

You may recall Scola’s first incident came this past Sunday when his band of merry Argentinians played the United States in an exhibition in Barcelona. Things got a little testy before halftime between the two teams, and Scola exchanged pleasantries with some U.S. players. But: no harm, no foul. The players were separated, and the game went on.

What we didn’t know, however, was that this wasn’t Scola’s first altercation in an Olympic scrimmage. Days before his incident against the United States, Scola was getting into it with Serge Ibaka and Spain.

For those who don’t know, Ibaka is a no-nonsense, physical kind of player. In the video below, Scola can be seen taking slapping-swipes at Ibaka, and getting up in his face. Ibaka elbows him, but really, Scola put his face on his elbow first. Agitador!

Olympic basketball should be fun to watch, especially if the intensity of the exhibitions keep up. Oh, and the United States and Spain—who played for the gold medal in 2008—will play the final exhibition today before the real thing starts in London, at 4:30PM on ESPN2.

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