Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green added another dramatic chapter to his history of fan confrontations late Sunday, striding off the court during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans to engage in a tense, face-to-face shouting match with a courtside spectator who was repeatedly calling him Angel Reese.
The verbal sparring, which occurred in the first half of the Warriors’ road victory, required officials and arena security to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating.
Draymond Green fighting a pelicans fan 😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/T8p1m1GrqE
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) November 17, 2025
The Comparison and The Taunt
The fan, who identified himself as Sam Green of New Orleans, told reporters he was taunting the Warriors star with chants comparing him to the WNBA and former LSU standout, Angel Reese. The fan claimed the comparison was intended as a slight because Green had collected several rebounds but had not attempted many shots at that point in the game. Reese is known for her elite rebounding skills.
Draymond Green, who finished with eight points and 10 rebounds, acknowledged the verbal attack after the game.
“He just kept calling me a woman,” Green said, later clarifying the fan was using a woman’s name. “It was a good joke at first, but you can’t keep calling me a woman. I got four kids and one on the way. Just don’t be disrespectful.”
Draymond Green details the interaction he had with a fan in the first half. Said the fan referred to him by a woman’s name.
“It was a good joke at first, but you can’t keep calling me a woman. I’ve got four kids and one on the way. … He got quiet though, so it was fine.”
More: pic.twitter.com/KQtyi0nxQo
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) November 17, 2025
Threat and Warning Issued
The intensity of the exchange was evident as Green walked approximately 12 feet off the court to stand inches away from the grinning fan, who remained standing with his arms outstretched. According to the fan, the confrontation quickly escalated, with the NBA star allegedly shouting profanity and threatening to punch him out if the taunts continued.
Sam Green said Draymond Green shouted profanity at him and threatened to punch him out if he continued the “Angel Reese” taunts (a reference to the WNBA star and former LSU player who set several LSU and SEC rebounding records).
“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,” said Sam Green, who was given a warning by ushers but was allowed to remain in his front-row seat.
“He was talking at first,” Draymond Green said. “Then you get a little closer and he didn’t really say much else. But it’s fine. We move on.”
Officials, including referee Courtney Kirkland, rushed to separate the two. The fan was issued a warning by ushers for his persistent heckling but was ultimately allowed to remain in his front-row seat for the remainder of the game.
The incident is the latest in a long line of confrontations between the combustible four-time NBA champion and spectators, interactions that have previously resulted in the league fining Green for directing inappropriate language toward fans. The episode reignites the ongoing debate about the boundaries of fan conduct and the mental toll that continuous, personal heckling takes on players.
