Golden State Warriors Star Draymond Green Takes Offense At Being Compared To Angel Reese
Draymond Green, a man who has never been shy about speaking his mind, decided a courtside chat was in order during the Warriors’ game against the Pelicans on Sunday night. And no, he wasn’t asking for popcorn recommendations.
The incident started after Green was whistled for a shooting foul on Pelicans Forward Herbert Jones. A fan, later identified as 35-year-old Sam Green of New Orleans (no relation, we assume), was cheering a little too enthusiastically for Draymond’s liking. The fan, grinning like he’d just won the lottery, started chanting “Angel Reese” at the Warriors forward. The reference was to the WNBA star known for her rebounding prowess, a not-so-subtle dig at Draymond’s own rebound-heavy, low-scoring start to the game.
What started as a joke quickly escalated. While other players lined up for the free throw, Draymond made a beeline for the fan, getting chest-to-chest in a heated exchange. Game officials and ushers had to step in, pulling Draymond away before things got physical.
What Was Said in the Sideline Squabble?
After the game, Draymond didn’t mince words. “He just kept calling me a woman,” Green said to reporters. “It was a good joke at first, but you can’t keep calling me a woman. I got four kids, one on the way. You can’t keep calling me a woman.”
The fan, Sam Green, had a slightly different version of events. He claimed he was just having a bit of fun and that Draymond threatened to punch him if the “Angel Reese” taunts 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, it was a little unnerving,” the fan said. Despite the drama, he was allowed to keep his front-row seat after a warning.
Draymond Green’s History With Hecklers
This isn’t Draymond’s first rodeo when it comes to fan confrontations. He’s been fined before for using “obscene language toward a fan” and has been a vocal critic of what he sees as a double standard, where fans can say almost anything without consequence while players face fines for reacting.
Warriors Coach Steve Kerr, ever the diplomat, said he wasn’t sure what was said but commented, “As long as it doesn’t escalate, it’s fine for a player to go over and have a discussion. It would have been nice if security had gotten there a little bit earlier.”
In the end, Draymond seemed to get the last laugh. The Warriors took home a 124-106 victory, and the fan? Well, he got quiet. “He was talking at first,” Draymond said. “Then you get a little closer, and he didn’t really say much else. But it’s fine. We move on.” Just another night in the life of Draymond Green.
