There’s still some time until the start of the Olympics, but tensions are already running high.

France and Germany faced each other at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, for an international friendly that apparently became anything but.

With just over two minutes left in the second quarter and the French leading the Germans, 41-23, Dennis Schröder, who also plays for the Brooklyn Nets, drove toward the basket and was fouled by Evan Fournier, a free agent who played for the Knicks and Pistons last season.

Schröder took exception to the foul and quickly approached Fournier with some words. Fournier, though, almost immediately fought back by placing his hands around Schröder’s throat.

The two were separated quickly, and Fournier was ejected for his actions.

Evan Fournier of the French National Basketball Team celebrates with fans after a win in an international friendly match against Turkey July 3, 2024, at Kindarena in Rouen, France. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

KLAY THOMPSON POSTS TRIBUTE TO BAY AREA AFTER LEAVING WARRIORS: ‘BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE’

Both teams are in Group B for the Olympics along with Japan and the soon-to-be-named winner of an Olympic qualifying tournament. They will face each other Aug. 2.

Germany also has Franz and Moritz Wagner of the Orlando Magic and the LA Clippers’ Daniel Theis. Franz just signed a $229 million deal with the Magic. France is loaded with reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.

France’s Evan Fournier (10) shoots over U.S. forward Kevin Durant (7) during a preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics July 25, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.  (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Olympic basketball begins July 27, and the men’s gold medal game is scheduled for Aug. 10.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Way too much is being written about the Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny James with the 55th pick. But slow down people and let’s keep things in perspective. How many players drafted late in the second round make any significant contributions to their team, at least in the first few years? There were only three players selected after Bronny was picked, and I doubt that any of those three were high on any team’s radar. So if there was a player out there that the Lakers had an interest in, there was a good chance they could be signed after the draft ended. It was a historic pick! Father and son getting the chance to play together. There was little sacrifice made to give LeBron James the gift of seeing his son drafted and to get to fulfill a dream of playing together.

Steve Kaye
Oro Valley, Ariz.

::

Can everybody just take a breath?

First, I am not a big LeBron James fan, but I’ve learned to accept the inevitable. LeBron, by virtue of 20 seasons of greatness, has put himself in the position he’s in, and he runs the Lakers. The great Dr. Buss is long gone. So let’s take in a good thing on a human level. Is Bronny a superstar? Of course not. But he is a good kid. Zero bad press or drama, despite growing up in the fish bowl he was put in. Not his choice, but he’s handled it with maturity and composure. Oh yeah, he had heart problems too. Let’s just let this father/son thing play out, because we will never see it again.

Jeff Heister
Chatsworth

::

Regarding the overwhelmingly intense scrutiny awaiting Lakers rookie Bronny James, columnist Bill Plaschke claims that “he didn’t ask for any of this.” This mystifying statement begs the question: Who, in fact, decided that the time was now for this relatively unheralded USC freshman to enter the 2024 NBA draft, if not James Jr. himself?

Rob Fleishman
Placentia

::

The Dallas Mavericks should sign Mychal Thompson to a one-day contract, then have him and Klay start the opening game of the 2024-25 NBA season so they could be the first father and son to play together in the NBA.

Paul Kawaguchi
Rosemead

Rich get richer, Lakers get poorer

Thank goodness LeBron was able to get another $104 million from his newest contract. Would hate to think that some of that money could have been used for the Lakers to get quality depth to surround him and Anthony Davis. I guess a true title pursuit (taking a Tom Brady-like discount) takes second stage when comparing paychecks with other NBA stars. One would think a billionaire would be open to such an idea. Can’t wait to hear about the Lakers shopping at the discount rack for the rest of the summer.

Matt Kingsbury
Simi Valley

::

Unfortunately Bill Plaschke’s “Get ready for another era of team futility” prediction for the Lakers seems quite accurate. The comparison between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in the twilight of their careers and the rosters around them (although glad to see that Dalton Knecht fell to the Lakers) is rather appropriate.

Moreover, the Western Conference should be even tougher next season. While painful to say, it appears the 18-time champion Boston Celtics are much closer to their next championship than the Lakers.

Ken Feldman
Tarzana

::

I imagine it will be rough on LeBron James to live on $52 million a year over the next two years. But more importantly, in an era when superstar players in all sports are taking reductions or deferrals in salary to help team management build a better team, James signs a maximum money deal while cutting the Lakers’ ability to do so. I think that says all we need to know about LeBron. Instead of his name on the back of his jersey, he should just print “Me First.”

Jack Nelson
Los Angeles
::

We’ve all heard the definition of insanity. … Lakers, let’s stop giving contracts worth $50 million a year and having no team.

Kelly Mark Ritchie
Calabasas

Redick Lakers’ assist leader

Boy, I see a lot of doubt about new Lakers coach JJ Redick, but no congrats to him for negotiating the largest “assistant” coaching contract in sports history. He’s obviously smarter than you think.

Gary Koerner
Covina

Let’s be Frank about Clips’ GM

I understand why there is so much attention to Rob Pelinka, but why has The Times ignored the perpetually bad job Lawrence Frank has done with the Clippers? This team is unlikely to make the play-in for the next five years with a washed-up Kawhi Leonard and a lot of cast-offs. But at least they will have great draft picks … oh no, he traded them all in the Paul George trade. Proof in this delusion is Frank, when asked, said he would do the trade again!

David Bialis
San Diego

The good, the bad …

You gotta love the Dodgers. I enjoyed reading “Dodgers turn rejects into relievers” by Mike DiGiovanna. Banda, Ramirez, Phillips, Brasier, Almonte, Kolarek, Morrow, Petersen and Bruihl all benefited by coming to the Dodgers. This is such a feel-good story that it needs to be turned into a movie, or at least a “30 for 30” episode, especially if the Dodgers end up winning the World Series.

Vaughn Hardenberg
Westwood

::

I’d like to remind manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers that there is something called the “intentional walk.” Losing two straight series to sub-.500 teams while giving up 23 runs in the last three games does not bode well for the boys in blue’s playoff hopes.

Mike Schaller
Temple City

::

Yes, the Dodgers have a big payroll and three of the biggest names in the game, but in looking at this team it is hard to see a playoff contender. I realize the pitching staff has been hit with injuries, but there is no excuse for all the walks, especially to leadoff batters, and the big innings allowed after the first two batters are retired. With so many hitters flirting with a .200 average, big offensive innings are hard to come by. I keep waiting for things to change, hopefully not in vain.

Alan Abajian
Alta Loma

Ending this way just for kicks

Soccer plays 11 on 11 for 90 to 120 minutes. If still tied, they play a completely different game of one on one to decide the winner. Can you imagine if other major sports settled ties like soccer? NFL: longest field goal. MLB: home run derby. NBA: a game of H-O-R-S-E. NASCAR: parallel parking.

Dave Eng
Thousand Oaks

The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.

Email: sports@latimes.com

The San Diego Padres pulled off an incredible comeback victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of a record crowd at Petco Park on Friday night, and apparently one fan tried to join in on the celebrations happening down on the field. 

The Padres held on to a comfortable lead before the crowd of more than 47,000. But that all changed in the ninth inning, when the Diamondbacks orchestrated a comeback from a five-run deficit in the top of the inning to take an 8-7 lead. 

“This is a game of focus and refocus. It was a tough one, because you feel like 7-2, well played, well pitched . . . it’s never over until it’s over, obviously,” manager Mike Shildt said after the game. 

But the Padres responded with All-Star Jurickson Profar, who hit a tying home run, and Manny Machado, who sealed the win with his walk-off homer. 

“It just tells you about this team. We never stop fighting. We have that fight in us. Obviously, it was a tough ninth inning there for us, but we don’t stop the fight. We come in, and we continue to compete, and this team’s been doing that all year,” he said after getting doused in Gatorade. 

Machado tipped his hat to the fans. The 47,171 people in Petco Park marked the largest crowd in stadium history. 

Manny Machado, #13 of the San Diego Padres, celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on July 5, 2024, in San Diego, California. (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

NATIONALS OUTFIELDER JAWS WITH 66-YEAR-OLD FAN OVER ‘BUSH LEAGUE’ PITCH

The crowd roared as Machado made his way back to the dugout to celebrate with his team, and that’s when the broadcast captured an overzealous fan who had managed to get on the field and attempt to take a selfie with Machado. 

For a brief moment, it appeared that Machado was celebrating with the man, seemingly unaware and caught up in the celebration. But just moments later, the fan was tackled to the ground by security. 

Manny Machado, #13 of the San Diego Padres, is doused after hitting a walk-off two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Petco Park on July 5, 2024, in San Diego, California.  (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

It was unclear whether the fan was arrested for storming the field, but the incident didn’t seem to bother Machado. 

“It was fun. This is what we play for right here,” he said. “This is what we play for, especially in front of this crowd coming back home. . . . It was a hell of a night.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.