During a recent game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green engaged in a heated exchange with the Nets’ 89-year-old superfan, Bruce Reznick. While he was shooting a free throw, Green turned towards the superfan, more popularly known as Mr. Whammy, and shouted:
“Sit your a** down!”
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The outburst was directed at the superfan who has been a permanent fixture behind the basket of the Nets for decades. He was known specifically for his ritualistic attempts to distract visiting players.
Reznick is a retired attorney and widower and has been a Nets staple since the 1990s. His signature ‘whammy’ involves standing under the hoop, extending his index and pinkie fingers, and yelling “Miss!” right before a player releases the ball. After the Warriors won 120-107, Green clarified that his response was in jest, telling reporters:
“I told him to sit his old a** down somewhere, man… Can’t be distracting me on my free throws… That was fun. I had a lot of fun tonight.”
While Green took the distraction in good faith, not every player in the past has taken Reznick this lightly. In 2015, LeBron James allegedly complained about the superfan’s actions, which even led the Nets’ then-CEO to ask Reznick to return to his seat.
Reflecting on the event, Reznick said, “He complained about me…He’s the only one that ever complained about me.” Despite the occasional friction with superstars, Reznick has affirmed that most players are friendly and often exchange well wishes with him ahead of games.
Who Are ‘Super-Fans’ In The NBA?
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery honors the most dedicated enthusiasts who have become synonymous with the teams that they support. The gallery is named after James Goldstein, a businessman who has attended over 2,000 NBA games and is a constant courtside fixture at both Lakers and Clippers matchups.
In 2021, Nav Bhatia was the first superfan to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. He has been a Raptors superfan for decades and had a legendary 26-year streak of never missing a Toronto home game until 2021. When the Raptors won the league in 2019, Bhatia received an official NBA Championship ring as well.
Superfans are celebrated not just for their attendance but for their deep personal connections with their teams. The league ensures they are heard and are visible enough as some of the legendary figures in hoops history.
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