“I’m not an angry Black man. I’m a very successful, educated Black man with a great family. And I’m great at basketball, I’m great at what I do,” said Draymond Green after his team’s Game 2 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Initially, it was believed that this response was made to address Green’s side of the story when he started yelling at the referees after a technical foul was called on him. Now, however, we find out there was more to it.

As per reports, during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game, Green was subjected to “racially charged” comments while he was on a stationary bike after being benched following a technical foul. Social media videos suggested a fan reportedly yelled at him, resulting an exchange. While the fan who made the unfortunate comments left the spot before officials could confirm his identity, another spectator was reportedly ejected from the venue for violating the NBA Fan Code of Conduct. Given that incident, no one would have blamed the Warriors if they weren’t too keen on returning to the Target Center for another game. Fortunately, however, Steve Kerr does not believe that one bad apple spoils the bunch.

The Warriors’ head coach was questioned about the fan incident in the aftermath of Game 2. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported on X on May 9 that Kerr thanked the Timberwolves organization “for their swift action”. The update also mentioned how, ” Kerr said he talked to Draymond today about incident and also his technical count.” 

While we don’t know Green’s true opinion on that incident, Kerr made it clear that “I never take words from one person and label a city with that. There’s just going to be individuals — sometimes they’re drunk, whatever — who cross the line. It’s unfortunate. But it doesn’t at all impact my view of Minneapolis.” But that doesn’t mean the team is going to let it go that easily. According to a press release by the Timberwolves on Friday:

“The team is continuing to investigate and additional action may be taken. The Timberwolves and Target Center are firmly committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and safe environment for all. Racist, hateful, or threatening behavior has no place at our games or in our community and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.” If you believe that Steve Kerr is someone who urges to forget such incidents and move on, the coach has certainly spoken out when he feels there was a need for it.

It was only back in late April, during the Warriors-Rockets series, when the Warriors’ head coach came out in Draymond Green’s defense. He took action after chants of “F–k you Draymond” were being chanted in two consecutive games in Houston, by stating “It’s not ideal when a crowd is chanting ‘F— you Draymond’ … I would prefer if fans could use a little more discretion and remember that the guy has kids”. He further added, “Maybe I’m old school. I’m all for the fans cheering for their team and if they want to yell at the opponents, great, but I just think ‘F you’ is – it’s a little much.”

Then, back in 2022, a Game 3 in Boston brought out the infamous volatile playoff energy of TD Garden fans. “F–k you, Draymond” rang out over and over there too. Since Green’s kid was reportedly in attendance, Kerr did not take too kindly to it, and said, “This sweet and innocent little guy, and he’s got to sit there and watch as his dad gets cussed out by 20,000 drunk fans. People don’t think of it on those terms, like when you’re watching from the outside. I do think it rattled Draymond a little bit because that’s pretty extreme.”

Such incidents repeating would certainly be the last thing Draymond Green needs right now. After all, alongside the playoff pressure, the veteran already holds the belief that the referees are out to get him.

Shams Charania highlighted Draymond Green’s alleged stance on referees: “because of his history….”

ESPN’s Shams Charania recently appeared on ‘The Pat Mcafee Show’ to have a lively discussion on Game 2 of the Warriors-Timberwolves series. This also involved the Naz Reid incident, and how Draymond Green has accumulated enough technical and flagrant fouls that 2 of either of them would cause a 1-game suspension. Of course, one cannot simply ignore “the agenda to try to keep making me look like an angry Black man” remark by Green. Charania believed that while Draymond Green might not always be in the wrong, he has done enough things in the past to make the officials extra concerned about him.

“From my understanding, it’s also what he feels is this treatment that he gets from the officiating, believing that he gets calls on him that other players may not get, and that, and that they potentially referee him differently,” said the 31-year-old reporter. “Like that play right there on Naz Reid. If this was the first time Draymond Green was making a play like that, I don’t think they go to the monitor. But because of his history, they’ve suspended him in the past, based on history, I think, because of all that, he feels like he might be getting in an improper whistle, an improper treatment.”

The stance that Adam Silver and the referees are out to get him might not be true. However, Green making such remarks only helps his case. After all, as Charania added, “now the flip side of that is everyone around the league believes Draymond Green has probably the best leeway, largest amount of leeway that any player has. He’s able to have that back and forth with referees all the time. So, it’s a double-edged sword, at the end of the day”. Everyone is playing a game of minds, while fans watch such incidents and wonder what the heck is going on.

Games 3 and 4 of the Warriors-Timberwolves series are set to take place in the Bay Area. Therefore, Green won’t find any fans throwing slurs there. With any luck, any more major incidents from the power forward’s side can be avoided for the time being.