During the Golden State Warriors' 124-106 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 16, Draymond Green found himself in a heated exchange with a fan who was persistently chanting “Angel Reese.” The incident unfolded after Green was called for a shooting foul, prompting him to approach the heckler, identified as Sam Green.
As the game continued and players lined up for free throws, Draymond stood face-to-face with Sam, leading to a brief verbal confrontation before officials intervened. Post-game, Draymond recounted a conversation with referee Courtney Kirkland, who assured him, “I got it. I’ve heard him over and over and over again. You’ve handled it well. Don’t get yourself in no trouble. I’ll take care of it.”
Draymond elaborated on the exchange, stating that Sam had been calling him “a woman’s name,” which he found particularly offensive. Sam later clarified his intentions to ESPN, explaining that his chants were a jab at Draymond’s performance, specifically referencing the rebounds he secured off his own missed shots—similar to criticisms aimed at Chicago Sky player Angel Reese.
“It was a good joke at first, but you can’t keep calling me a woman,” Draymond remarked, emphasizing his family life with four children, including one on the way. He shares daughters Cash and Hunni with his wife Hazel Renee and has a son, Draymond Jr., from a previous relationship.
Reflecting on the incident, Draymond noted that while Sam initially engaged verbally, the interaction fizzled out once they were closer. “He was talking at first; then you get a little closer and he didn’t really say much else. But it’s fine. We move on,” he stated.
Following the confrontation, Sam remained courtside and received a warning from arena staff. He expressed discomfort over Draymond’s approach, stating, “I wasn’t using profanity, and for him to walk 12 feet off the court to come and get in my face like that, it was a little unnerving.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr commented on the situation after the game, asserting that while he was unaware of the specifics of the exchange, he believed Draymond did not overstep any boundaries. “As long as it doesn’t escalate, it’s fine [for a player] to go over and have a discussion,” Kerr said, adding that earlier intervention from security would have been beneficial.
This incident is not an isolated one for Draymond; in 2022, he faced a $25,000 fine for directing obscene language toward a fan. He previously remarked on the perception of NBA players as larger-than-life figures, noting that such interactions often lead to fines while fans may find humor in them later.
As tensions between players and fans continue to evolve in the NBA landscape, this latest episode highlights the complexities of player-fan dynamics during high-stakes games.
