Draymond Green didn’t hold back this week. After facing racial slurs from fans in Minnesota, the Warriors veteran also took aim at a different kind of hurt — the frustration of being overlooked in his hometown.

During Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals between Golden State and Minnesota on May 8, two groups of fans targeted Green with racial slurs while he rode a stationary bike in the tunnel at Target Center. Green confronted one of the fans, prompting security to eject the individual. The other fan left before security could act. The Timberwolves confirmed the ejection and stated they are investigating the incident, emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy for “racist, hateful, or threatening behavior.”

After the 117–93 loss to Minnesota, Draymond Green didn’t directly address the incident. But in the locker room, he made his feelings clear. He called out the media and public for pushing a harmful stereotype that painted him as an “angry Black man.”

“i’m not an angry black man. I’m a very successful, educated black man… I’m great at what I do… The agenda to keep making me look like an angry black man is crazy. I’m sick of it. It’s ridiculous.”

This isn’t new for Green. In the 2017 NBA Playoffs, he said fans had hurled racial slurs at him. He wasn’t alone. Many Black athletes across sports have faced the same. Green pointed to Adam Jones, a Baltimore Orioles outfielder, who dealt with similar abuse at Fenway Park. For Green, it showed how common this treatment is — even in places meant to protect players.

Green’s words reignited a broader conversation. It wasn’t just about fan behavior, but also how the public portrays Black athletes. When white players show emotion, people call it “competitive fire.” But when Green does the same, they label it “anger.” For a player who wears his heart on his sleeve, that double standard feels deeply personal and endlessly draining.

And just a day later, a new flashpoint — this time from his roots in Saginaw — brought those feelings of being unseen all the way back home.

Draymond’s Hometown Just Made a Move He’s Been Waiting For Years

Less than 24 hours later, another emotional flashpoint hit — this time from Green’s hometown. On May 9, Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) announced that it hired Chris Fowler as the new head coach of its men’s basketball program.

Draymond Green, a Saginaw native, reposted the news with a candid note: “Never been a fan of Saginaw Valley because I felt they never came into our schools and actually gave our kids a chance to play there. Today I became a fan because they finally got it right.”

For Green, this hire wasn’t just a local sports update — it struck a personal chord. SVSU had always frustrated him. He believed the university turned its back on local talent, including him. For years, he called them out for ignoring Saginaw high schools — not just for weak recruiting, but for showing no faith in the community that raised him.

“Today I became a fan,” finally offering praise to an institution he’d long criticized. By hiring Fowler, SVSU didn’t just start a new coaching era — they sent a message. They finally acknowledged the value that had always existed right in their backyard.

The timing made it sting more. Just a day earlier, Green had faced racial slurs in Minnesota — a harsh reminder of how easily people dehumanize Black athletes. Then, back home, SVSU reopened old wounds. Not through hate from strangers, but through years of silence from a place that should’ve backed him.

Still, Green didn’t speak just for himself. He spoke for the future. His words mattered — not because of who he is now, but because of who he was. A kid from Saginaw, just wanting someone to believe in him. With this hire, SVSU finally has a chance to break the cycle. A chance to bet on local kids who’ve been ignored too long.

Full-circle moments don’t come easy in sports — especially for someone like Draymond, who’s fought for respect every step of the way. But this week, in the middle of pain, he found a glimpse of healing. And maybe, just maybe, Saginaw finally decided to believe in its own.