During the game on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors found himself facing off with an outspoken fan.
Green mentioned afterward that the crowd was very vocal.
“He kept calling me a woman. At first, it was funny, but then it got old,” Green remarked, noting how the man continued to use a “woman’s name.”
“I’ve got four kids, and one of them is right here,” Green added. “Just be respectful.”
The fan, identified as Sam Green, expressed enthusiasm when Draymond Green was penalized for a foul while he was defending Pelicans player Herb Jones.
Following the foul call, Green approached the man, standing very close to him.
Officials quickly intervened to separate them, and Green returned to the court, appearing rather amused by the situation while an usher spoke with the fan.
Green shared that game official Courtney Kirkland told him, “I heard what he said repeatedly. You handled it well. Just stay out of trouble. I’ll take care of it. Courtney was great.”
Onlookers noted that fans were shouting “Angel Reese” at Green after he missed several rebounds during the match. In WNBA discussions, Reese is often highlighted for accruing rebounds from her own missed shots. Some analysis suggests that a third of her rebounds come from these situations.
The fan claimed Green threatened him and suggested he would punch him if he continued referencing Reese, stating to reporters, “I wasn’t swearing. It was unsettling for him to come up so close like that.”
Fans were warned but not asked to leave the arena.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr downplayed Green’s confrontation with the fan, saying, “As long as it doesn’t escalate, it’s alright for players to talk to fans. I just wish security had acted a bit faster.”
Although Green wasn’t fined for this incident, he has faced penalties in the past for similar behavior. For instance, he received a $25,000 fine in 2022 for making obscene remarks toward a fan.
Surprisingly, Green mentioned that he typically enjoys the banter. “We embrace the disrespect when playing away. It’s always entertaining to silence the home crowd,” he explained.
