Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green got into a heated exchange with a fan during the team's recent victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, who was taunting him by repeatedly saying 'Angel Reese' in reference to WNBA player Angel Reese, known for her exceptional rebounding skills.
The fan, identified as 35-year-old Sam Green of New Orleans, was wearing a black polo with a Pelicans logo and cheered after Draymond Green had been called for a foul while guarding the team's forward Herb Jones. However, when players started taking their positions for Jones's free shots, Green strode over to the fan and confronted him, standing just inches away as they spoke.
Game officials quickly intervened, pulling Green away from the fan and ushering him back towards his seat. The fan continued to look amused by the exchange. When questioned about the incident afterwards, Sam Green explained that he was taunting Draymond Green with chants of 'Angel Reese', due to the Warriors star not attempting any shots despite having several rebounds.
However, things took a turn when Draymond Green allegedly swore at him and threatened to punch him if he continued with the 'Angel Reese' taunts. The fan said he wasn't using profanity, but felt unnerved by Green's aggressive reaction. Despite being given a warning by ushers, Green was allowed to remain in his seat.
In his post-game comments, Draymond Green commented that the fan had called him a 'woman's name', which initially started as a joke but quickly became uncomfortable. He stated that he understood where the fan was coming from, but that calling him a woman by name wasn't acceptable. The exchange highlighted the delicate balance between player-fan interaction and personal boundaries.
This incident marks another instance of Draymond Green drawing criticism for his fiery on-court persona, which often leads to technical fouls, fines, and ejections. In 2022, he was fined $25,000 for directing obscene language towards a fan. Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that the situation could have been better managed by security, saying it would have been 'nice if they had gotten there a little bit earlier'.
The fan, identified as 35-year-old Sam Green of New Orleans, was wearing a black polo with a Pelicans logo and cheered after Draymond Green had been called for a foul while guarding the team's forward Herb Jones. However, when players started taking their positions for Jones's free shots, Green strode over to the fan and confronted him, standing just inches away as they spoke.
Game officials quickly intervened, pulling Green away from the fan and ushering him back towards his seat. The fan continued to look amused by the exchange. When questioned about the incident afterwards, Sam Green explained that he was taunting Draymond Green with chants of 'Angel Reese', due to the Warriors star not attempting any shots despite having several rebounds.
However, things took a turn when Draymond Green allegedly swore at him and threatened to punch him if he continued with the 'Angel Reese' taunts. The fan said he wasn't using profanity, but felt unnerved by Green's aggressive reaction. Despite being given a warning by ushers, Green was allowed to remain in his seat.
In his post-game comments, Draymond Green commented that the fan had called him a 'woman's name', which initially started as a joke but quickly became uncomfortable. He stated that he understood where the fan was coming from, but that calling him a woman by name wasn't acceptable. The exchange highlighted the delicate balance between player-fan interaction and personal boundaries.
This incident marks another instance of Draymond Green drawing criticism for his fiery on-court persona, which often leads to technical fouls, fines, and ejections. In 2022, he was fined $25,000 for directing obscene language towards a fan. Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that the situation could have been better managed by security, saying it would have been 'nice if they had gotten there a little bit earlier'.