The NBA is back to its strict methods when an on-court heckling turned into disrespect. The momentary chaos started during Draymond Green’s clash with a Pelicans fan during the Warriors’ 124-106 win. After Draymond missed some shots and grabbed rebounds, a fan named Sam Green taunted him with “Angel Reese” chants. He poked fun at his stat line and called him a woman. At first, Draymond laughed it off, but when the insults kept going, he strolled right up to the heckler and had words.

“I come down, he’s like, oh, Draymond, you’re Angel Reese, ok, that was a little funny,” Green explained the situation. “As the night goes on, there’s more with it, hey Draymond, you’re f****n Angel Reese.” But then, if you hear Sam’s side of the story, Draymond falls into a great pickle. “Draymond told me to suck his d*** in the first quarter,” Sam explained. The problem arose for the 35-year-old when the NBA swooped in. “The NBA has issued a warning to Golden State’s Draymond Green for his interaction with a vocal fan in New Orleans on Sunday night, source tells ESPN. No fine,” NBA insider Shams Charania posted on X. “The fan was chanting “Angel Reese” toward Green, who responded face-to-face as taunts continued.”

It’s safe to say that this pardon saved the Warriors’ power forward from a heap of financial blunder, as fines for brawls like this can go up to $1M. The NBA doesn’t mess around with discipline, dishing out penalties to keep players in check for maintaining sportsmanship and league image. Fines can soar nearly to $1 million, discouraging repeat offenders from crossing the line. For example, Green’s total fines hover around $998K. Green has earned his reputation as the NBA’s ultimate hothead. He’s shown his fiery passion on the court and blown up more times than fans can count.

Like the one time when Green choked Rudy Gobert during a heated scuffle early in a Warriors vs. Timberwolves game. Green intended to separate and neutralize Gobert, but the move went too far, leading to a five-game suspension. And then the other time, when Green punched Jusuf Nurkic in a heated moment during a December 2023 game. This earned Green a Flagrant 2 foul and immediate ejection, as well as a suspension. His short-tempered attitude has always been the talk of the town. And the NBA leaves no one showing mercy. And even Anthony Edwards is no stranger to fines.

In a game against Memphis, the Timberwolves lost 127-125. Edwards got into trouble for making obscene gestures toward a game official. The Timberwolves star has battled tech fouls all season, racking up $285K in fines for profanities and outbursts, including a huge $100K hit for swearing on live TV. Edwards owned up to his “careless, young, dumb mistake,” promising to keep his cool moving forward. Stories like these put players like Draymond Green in a very safe light that can be switched off whenever the league wishes to.

The brawling parties showcase their explanations

Draymond Green was practically saved from a heap of troubles that could have produced a black mark in his career. But why did he lose it on Angel Reese? The fan noticed Draymond was snagging rebounds like a vacuum but hadn’t yet tried to score. It’s a playful jab comparing Draymond’s defensive hustle to Reese’s aggressive WNBA rebounding style, known as “mebounds.” Clever, but hit a nerve.

Draymond’s reaction was telling. He told reporters, “He just kept calling me a woman,” Green told 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.” Luckily, there were no punches or violence as you expect from Dray. Back in 2022, he was fined $25,000 for a fan confrontation, so the NBA is pretty much aware of his fiery courtside moments. This time, though, the fan copped the warning, courtesy of the NBA’s “red card.”

Sam Green, the fan behind the viral “Angel Reese” chants, explained his side after the on-court drama. “I meant no disrespect to women’s basketball or Angel Reese,” Sam explained. “I was only trying to get in Draymond’s head because he’s an a**hole. Clearly, it worked.” Sam also acknowledged the intensity during their face-to-face moment, calling Draymond’s lean-in “a little unnerving” but standing by his playful fan role.