NEW ORLEANS — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was involved in a heated exchange with a courtside fan during Sunday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, an incident that briefly drew attention away from the game itself.

The confrontation occurred after Green was whistled for a shooting foul while defending Pelicans forward Herbert Jones. As players lined up along the lane for Jones’ free throws, Green walked toward a fan seated in the front row and stopped just inches away, engaging in a tense verbal exchange. The fan, later identified as Sam Green, a 35-year-old New Orleans resident, stood smiling with his arms extended to his sides as the two exchanged words.

Officials reacted quickly, stepping in to separate the player from the fan and escorting Green back toward the court. Arena ushers also gathered around the fan, who appeared amused and remained in his seat after being warned.

Sam Green said he had been taunting Draymond Green by repeatedly chanting “Angel Reese,” a reference to the WNBA star and former LSU standout known for her rebounding prowess. The chants were aimed at mocking Green’s early struggles around the basket, including one Golden State possession in which he missed five consecutive shots but secured rebounds on the first four attempts.

Following the game, Draymond Green addressed the situation with reporters, explaining that he felt the taunts crossed a personal line.

“He just kept calling me a woman,” Green said, later clarifying that the fan was repeatedly shouting a woman’s name at him. “It was funny at first, but you can’t keep doing that. I’ve got four kids, with another on the way. You can’t keep calling me a woman.”

Sam Green claimed that Draymond Green responded by shouting profanities and threatening physical harm if the chants continued. While he acknowledged the exchange was intense, the fan said he did not use profanity himself and was unsettled by how close the player came to him.

“For him to walk off the court and get right in my face like that, it was a little unnerving,” Sam Green said. Despite the warning from arena staff, he was allowed to remain in his front-row seat for the rest of the game.

Draymond Green downplayed the incident afterward, suggesting the situation de-escalated quickly.

“He was talking at first,” Green said. “Then once I got closer, he didn’t really say much. It’s fine. We move on.”

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr also addressed the moment in his postgame comments, though he noted that he did not hear the exchange clearly enough to offer detailed judgment.

“As long as it doesn’t escalate, it’s okay for a player to have a discussion,” Kerr said. “It probably would’ve helped if security had stepped in a little sooner.”

The episode adds to a long history of confrontations involving Draymond Green, whose intense and emotional playing style has often resulted in technical fouls, fines, and occasional ejections. He has previously been disciplined by the NBA for interactions with fans, including a $25,000 fine in 2022 for directing obscene language toward a spectator.

Green has frequently spoken out about fan conduct, arguing that spectators often face minimal consequences for crossing boundaries, while players risk fines or suspensions for reacting. He has suggested that this imbalance encourages some fans to provoke players intentionally, knowing the repercussions fall more heavily on the athletes.

While the situation in New Orleans did not escalate further, it once again highlighted the ongoing tension between players and courtside fans, as well as the challenges leagues face in maintaining appropriate boundaries in close-proximity seating areas.