Draymond Green found a way to get the World Series of Poker final table talking, and Phil Hellmuth was more than happy to answer.
During the 2026 WSOP Main Event final table on Tuesday night at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and Horseshoe Las Vegas, Green used the spotlight to nod to Hellmuth while also taking a playful swipe at the rest of the field. The 36-year-old forward noted that the event had gone from 9,000 players down to seven and said the remaining competitors were chasing “$10 million dollars and also this bracelet, only 16 less than the great Phil Hellmuth.”
Hellmuth saw it and responded quickly on X: “Thanks for the shout out Day Day!!”
That was enough to keep the poker world buzzing, especially with Hellmuth’s place in the game already cemented. The 1989 Main Event champion is widely regarded as one of the best tournament players ever, and his résumé includes bracelets across five different decades. He’s also built a reputation for the kind of outsized personality that comes with big wins and bigger opinions.
Green, for his part, would seem to appreciate that kind of presence. The four-time NBA champion has long been a fan of Hellmuth’s game and personality, and Hellmuth’s loyalty to the Golden State Warriors only adds to the connection. He’s been a regular at Warriors games at Chase Center, so the two likely already had some familiarity before Tuesday’s shoutout.
@Money23Green welcomed the final seven players to the WSOP Main Event with the iconic “Shuffle Up and Deal!”
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) August 5, 2026
Hopefully we’ll see Draymond in the field next year. 👀 pic.twitter.com/aBDsXSKWTL
At the time Green made the comment, seven players were still alive for the title. Now the field is down to two. Lucas Jumalon, who holds 328 million chips, will face Lauri Saaskilahti, who has 225 million, for the grand prize on Wednesday night.
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