“We’re angry, they’re passionate”: Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson stand up for Draymond Green against ‘angry black man’ stereotype

It was another night of drama for Draymond Green, who found himself in familiar territory on Thursday, May 8, when he picked up a technical foul for elbowing Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid. The incident, which unfolded at the Target Center, pushed the Golden State Warriors veteran just two technicals away from a suspension, a scenario the team can’t afford, especially with Steph Curry sidelined due to a hamstring strain.But it wasn’t just the foul that drew headlines. It was Green’s postgame comments, and the racial undertones they carried, that sparked deeper conversation.Draymond Green has long walked the fine line between being an emotional leader and a controversial enforcer. Known more for his fire than finesse, that passion once again boiled over in the Warriors’ loss. After elbowing Reid in the face, Green addressed the media and expressed frustration about being labeled an “angry Black man,” arguing that the narrative is steeped in racial stereotype.“I’m successful, I have a great family, and I’m great at what I do,” Green said, pushing back at the idea that his intensity should be interpreted as hostility.Later that night on their show ‘Nightcap’, former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson tackled the issue with nuance and candor. Johnson, a longtime friend of Green, defended his demeanor while making a clear distinction. “I love Draymond, good friend of mine. He’s not an angry Black man. He can be passionate … he kinda hurts some people sometimes, elbows, knees, and kicks or whatnot, but he’s an enforcer. There’s a difference between being angry and being passionate about something.”Sharpe echoed that sentiment, admitting that Green sometimes crosses the line, but rejecting the "angry" label. “I don’t look at him as [an angry Black man]. Do I think his play goes over the line sometimes? Yes. But I don’t think he’s angry,” Sharpe said.Adding fuel to the tension, reports surfaced that a fan was ejected from the arena for shouting racial slurs at Green. That incident may help explain the emotion behind his postgame remarks, comments that, while charged with frustration, remained deliberate, articulate, and pointed.Sharpe highlighted the double standards that persist in sports media. “We’re angry, they’re passionate,” he said, underscoring how similar behaviors are often characterized differently based on race. It’s a long-standing issue, one where Black athletes are too often reduced to their physicality, while their leadership, intellect, and emotional range go overlooked.Also Read: “I'm not an angry black man” – Draymond Green shuts down harmful stereotypes after receiving technical foulDraymond Green’s style has always sparked strong opinions. He’s the kind of player you want in your foxhole, not across the court. His behavior should be held accountable when it crosses the line, but attributing it to race distorts the conversation. As Sharpe and Johnson made clear on Thursday night, there’s an important difference between being passionate and being angry. In 2025, it’s time to recognize that difference and retire the harmful stereotypes that cloud it.