NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green had a tense encounter with a fan during Sunday night’s road game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The fan, who identified himself as Sam Green, 35, from New Orleans, was wearing a black polo shirt featuring a Pelicans logo. He was standing and cheering after Draymond Green was called for a shooting foul while guarding Pelicans forward Herb Jones.
As players took their positions along the key for Jones’ ensuing free throws, Draymond Green walked over to the grinning fan and stood just inches away from him. The two exchanged words while the fan held his arms out on each side. Game officials quickly intervened, stepping between them and pulling Draymond Green away. Meanwhile, ushers gathered around the fan, who appeared amused by the exchange.
Sam Green explained that he had been taunting Draymond Green with chants of “Angel Reese.” His intent was to highlight that, despite Green’s several rebounds, he had not attempted any shots during the game. (Angel Reese is a reference to the WNBA and former LSU star who set multiple rebounding records at LSU and in the SEC.)
According to Sam Green, Draymond Green responded with profanity and threatened to punch him if the “Angel Reese” chants continued. “I wasn’t using profanity, and for him to walk 12 feet off the court to come and get in my face like that was a little unnerving,” said Sam Green, who received a warning from ushers but was allowed to remain in his front-row seat.
Draymond Green, known for his fiery and confrontational on-court demeanor, has a history of drawing technical fouls, fines, and ejections. He has previously been fined for interactions with fans. In 2022, Green was fined $25,000 by the NBA for “directing obscene language toward a fan.”
Green has also been vocal in criticizing fan behavior, pointing out that fans often face few consequences for inappropriate conduct. He has suggested that fans are sometimes encouraged to provoke players because the players themselves face fines and penalties for engaging with them.