Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson is quickly earning a reputation around the NBA as one of the league’s more provocative players—willing to mix it up, take contact, and push buttons to get under opponents’ skin. In recent weeks, the 23-year-old Swedish second-year pro has sparked altercations with two All-Stars: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan. Both incidents led to technical fouls and, in DeRozan’s case, an ejection—prompting even Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green to call him out on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”
Green, no stranger to physical and controversial play himself, addressed Larsson’s antics directly: “Pelle Larsson been in the mix a bit this week. Got into it with Booker, then got into it with Demar. My take on that is I’ve played a bunch of Europeans, they do little dirty stuff … There’s a lot of Europeans that do dirty stuff on the basketball court. For D-Book and Demar to get mad like that, he’s (Pelle Larsson) doing something we ain’t see.”
Green drew a sharp distinction between his own style (“Draymond will f**k you up”) and what he sees as “sneaky” or under-the-radar tactics from some European players, including Larsson. He gave a backhanded compliment: “To his credit, he got a tech on D-Book and Demar thrown out. If you’re going to keep doing that, you’ve got to stay on that because people will start coming at you, and that comes with a reputation. I don’t know Pelle Larsson to be that guy, but if that’s who he’s going to be, commit and stay there because guys will start going at you like that.”
The comments sparked backlash online, with some calling Green’s generalization about Europeans unfair or even problematic, while others laughed at the irony of Draymond lecturing anyone on “dirty” play.
The Incidents Fueling the Buzz
Vs. Devin Booker (January 13, 2026): Larsson reportedly got in Booker’s head during a Heat-Suns matchup, leading to a shove from the Suns star after a flailing arm or contact. Booker reacted strongly, but Larsson stayed composed.Vs. DeMar DeRozan (January 20-21, 2026): In a Heat win over the Kings (130-117), Larsson and DeRozan clashed multiple times. DeRozan went up to block a shot but ended up hitting Larsson in the head with his arm—resulting in his ejection. The two exchanged words, with DeRozan seemingly challenging Larsson to “do something.” Post-game, Larsson downplayed it: “I didn’t say anything, I didn’t start anything. All I said was what he said to me back to him. It was just basketball.”
Larsson finished that game strong: 16 points (7-9 FG), 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal in 26 minutes—helping Miami secure the victory.
More Than Just Antics: Larsson’s On-Court Impact
Larsson isn’t just a provocateur—he’s become a valuable piece for the Heat. On the season (through late January 2026), the 6’5″ guard/forward averages 9.5 points, 3.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game, shooting around 47% from the field and 32% from three. His efficiency shines brighter when starting: the Heat boast a strong record (around 14-9 or better in recent splits) when he starts, compared to a losing mark when he comes off the bench or sits.
The team has gone on winning streaks when Larsson scores 16+ points, highlighting his ability to contribute offensively while doing the “dirty work”—hustle plays, defense, and drawing reactions. There’s even a dedicated X account, “Did Pelle Get Hit in the Face Today?” that tracks his penchant for taking contact and staying in opponents’ faces.
What’s Next? A Pest for the Long Haul?
Miami is currently on a five-game West Coast trip (including games against Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns again). With Larsson’s recent form and willingness to mix it up, don’t be surprised if he’s back in headlines—whether for another scuffle or a big stat line.
Larsson has forced techs on All-Stars in back-to-back incidents within a week. If he keeps this edge while producing, he could solidify as a key rotation player (and fan favorite) for a Heat team that thrives on grit. But as Green warned, building that “dirty” or “pest” reputation means opponents will target him—testing if he can back it up.
For now, Pelle Larsson is the talk of the league: part instigator, part contributor, and fully committed to winning any way he can. Heat fans love it—opponents? Not so much.