A tense late-game moment in Charlotte turned chaotic Friday night when a courtside fan was ejected following a heated exchange with Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey, an incident that appeared to touch on sensitive allegations from Giddey’s past.
With the Hornets leading 119–112 and just over a minute remaining, Giddey stepped away from his inbound spot and walked directly toward a fan seated in the second row at Spectrum Center. The fan, wearing a tan sweatshirt and oversized black sunglasses, stood and pointed at Giddey while flipping him off.
“You’re making jokes you don’t know shit about,” Giddey snapped back before referee Kevin Scott intervened, blowing his whistle repeatedly and separating the two. Security escorted the fan out moments later as play briefly halted.
The exchange came against the backdrop of allegations that dominated headlines in 2024, when Giddey was accused on social media of having an improper relationship with an underage girl. The NBA immediately opened an investigation after photos and a Snapchat image posted by unverified sources spread online. Giddey and Thunder coach Mark Daigneault repeatedly declined comment at the time, calling it a personal matter.
Ultimately, no criminal charges were filed, and the league closed its investigation without issuing any discipline. The age of the girl was never confirmed publicly.
Though Giddey didn’t address whether the Charlotte fan referenced those allegations directly, his reaction suggested the taunt crossed a line. After the Bulls’ 123–116 loss, Giddey kept his comments short.
“He just said something I didn’t like and I went over to him, that was it,” he said, adding that security handled the rest.
The incident added a flash of controversy to an already intense finish, leaving fans buzzing as the Hornets secured the win.