NEW ORLEANS – Draymond Green had a contentious second-quarter discussion with a heckling courtside fan Sunday night in the Warriors’ win over the Pelicans, apparently due to the fan’s reference to a WNBA All-Star.
Standing at his locker at Smoothie King Arena after the win, Green explained that a fan on the baseline repeatedly called him a “woman.” Green then confronted the man with 2:02 remaining in the first half. Official Courtney Kirkland kept Green and the fan separated.
“It was a good joke at first, but you can’t call me a woman,” Green said. “I’ve got four kids and one on the way. He got quiet, though, so it’s fine.”
Green, 35, added that the fan “didn’t say much else” once Green got closer.
Though the Warriors star declined to specify whose name the fan was using, the Associated Press reported that the fan, who identified himself to the AP as Sam Green, was calling him “Angel Reese.”
Reese was a record-breaking rebounder at nearby LSU and has become a polarizing figure in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky while playing at an All-Star level. The fan told the AP that he made his verbal jab because Draymond Green had several rebounds but had not attempted many shots yet in the game, and that the Warriors player threatened to punch him if the taunts continued.
“It was a little unnerving,” said Sam Green, who insisted that he did not use profanity toward the Warriors’ four-time NBA champion.
Ushers were seen speaking with the fan after the incident, but he was allowed to remain in his seat for the rest of the game.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he did not know exactly what happened during the incident, but was not bothered by Draymond Green chatting with the fan.
“As long as it doesn’t escalate, it’s fine to go over and have a discussion,” Kerr said. “I had no problem with it. Would have been nice if security got there a little bit earlier, but it’s hard to comment on it because I don’t know what was said.”
This is not the first time Green has had a brush with a fan.
In 2022, the Warriors veteran was fined $25,000 for what the NBA dubbed “directing obscene language toward a fan.”
During Game 2 of May’s playoff series against the Timberwolves, a fan was ejected after making racially charged comments toward Green.