Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is attempting 7.8 <a href="https://sports-info.online/2025/01/14/nba/shai-gilgeous-alexander-was-asked-if-hes-the-mvp-this-season/” title=”Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Was Asked If He's The MVP This Season”>free throws per game this season.
To some NBA fans, that’s a lot and it’s a sign that Gilgeous-Alexander is altering his game to get fouled often and stand at the charity stripe.
Gilgeous-Alexander has heard the complaints about his game, and he doesn’t seem to care.
Speaking with Clemente Almanza via NBACentral, Gilgeous-Alexander opened up about his free throws, saying:
“In the past couple of years, I led the NBA in drives. So I think naturally, I’m going to get fouled on drives. Usually, you get fouled on drives more than jump shots. I think that’s just a natural part of the game. And then I learned a few tricks through the trade along my way. I’ve turned it into a skill a little bit. As far as what people say, I don’t really care. As long as it’s efficient offense and my team wins, I’ll get it done.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t care if he gets called a ‘free-throw merchant’
“In the past couple of years, I led the NBA in drives. So I think naturally, I’m going to get fouled on drives. Usually, you get fouled on drives more than jump shots. I think that’s just a natural… pic.twitter.com/cVBae63kub
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 13, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander admitted that he has learned a few “tricks” to get fouled more often, but he believes that he is taking a lot of free throws because of the way he naturally plays.
As he mentioned, he is focused on driving to the basket.
On the way to the bucket, he faces a ton of physical contact from his opponents and that is why refs are giving him many opportunities to take free throws.
This is just the organic result of how Gilgeous-Alexander plays, he says.
This is a complaint leveled at many NBA players who take a lot of free throws.
Critics often say they are being sneaky and purposefully changing how they play in order to help their team.
But Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t breaking any rules, and he stands by his opinion that this is because of who he is and how he performs.
In other words, he won’t be changing any time soon.
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