Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has gained attention for his ability to draw fouls, and he recently addressed this in an interview.
Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized that statistics do not support the idea that he gets significantly more free throws than others. He acknowledged the frustration some feel but noted that this interest reflects increasing engagement with the sport.
“I understand why people are frustrated, especially if they are fans of other teams,” Gilgeous-Alexander told Chris Mannix of SI. “Recently, we’ve beaten their teams, and we did that by scoring points in various ways, including from the free throw line. So, I get their frustration.
“However, you won’t hear Oklahoma City fans complain about my free throws. You won’t hear Denver fans complain about Jokic’s free throws, or Lakers fans about Luka’s. It’s just part of the game. I appreciate it, as it generates interest and rivalries. It’s what makes the NBA exciting. The fact that fans care so much is beneficial; it means they’re watching, which helps drive TV deals and benefits me financially.”
Statistically, Gilgeous-Alexander is tied for second in the league with 9.1 free throw attempts per game, along with Deni Avdija. Luka Doncic leads with 10.3 attempts per game.
While the statistics are important, player perception matters too. Even opponents feel that Gilgeous-Alexander gets favorable calls. This perception is unlikely to change soon, so the reigning MVP seems wise to embrace it and view it positively.