NEW ORLEANS – During the second quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ 124-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, forward Draymond Green found himself in a heated exchange with a courtside fan. The incident occurred with just over two minutes left in the quarter when Green approached the fan, who had been vocally taunting him.
“I got called a woman repeatedly,” Green recounted after the game. “It started as a joke, but it went on too long. I have four kids, with another on the way—it’s just not something I’ll tolerate. However, he quieted down after our exchange, so it ended well.”
The fan, identified as 35-year-old Sam Green from New Orleans, explained to the Associated Press that his chant of “Angel Reese” aimed to poke fun at Green’s performance in the game, noting that while he was securing rebounds, he hadn’t taken many shots. Following the confrontation, Sam Green remained silent, leading to a calm resolution.
Draymond praised veteran official Courtney Kirkland for managing the incident, stating, “Security did come over, but (Kirkland) assured me he had it handled. He said, ‘I’ve heard him over and over again. You’ve handled it well. Don’t get yourself in trouble. I’ll take care of him.’ So, Courtney was great.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr observed the situation unfold from the bench and supported Green’s decision to respond. He acknowledged that while he couldn’t hear the exchange, as long as the situation didn’t escalate, having a discussion is permissible. “It would have been nice if security had gotten there a bit earlier,” Kerr noted.
Reflecting on fan interactions, Draymond Green mentioned that he usually welcomes the challenge of dealing with taunts while playing on the road, enjoying the ability to silence opposing crowds. “I love disrespect on the road because we win a lot,” he stated. “This year hasn’t been great for us in that department, but historically, quieting a home crowd is always fun.”
Overall, the incident showcased Green’s ability to handle on-court distractions while contributing to his team’s efforts for a commanding win.