SGA and Free Throws: Is the Criticism Fair?
Following last night’s Game One of the Western Conference Finals, one would expect the NBA world to be discussing Oklahoma City’s stomp of the Minnesota Timberwolves or perhaps Anthony Edwards’ poor shooting performance, but this has not been the case. Instead, the NBA community has zeroed in on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his seemingly permanent home at the free throw line. Last night, the Thunder’s star attempted 14 free throws, including seven in the first four and a half minutes of the game, sparking an intense reaction from NBA fans and media pundits alike who claim the star is a free-throw merchant. Is the criticism fair, though?
Overall, SGA has averaged 8.8 free throws per game during the regular season, which is the second most by any player after Giannis Antetokounmpo. During the postseason, SGA has averaged 9.2 free throws per game, which trails only Donovan Mitchell and Giannis again. So, while SGA does shoot a lot of free throws, he’s not necessarily the biggest culprit in the NBA. However, one reason that fans get upset is how SGA gets these free throws. SGA isn’t driving through three players like Giannis does, picking up excessive contact on virtually every play, instead, he seems to foul-bait or, in other words, purposefully exaggerate contact in order to obtain free throws.
If one were to dissect the foul calls last night that led to the many free throws by SGA, one would find plenty of questionable, if not outright wrong, calls. For instance, in one sequence, SGA was running towards the basket and barely touched Jaden McDaniels’ jersey before the star crumbled to the ground, leading to an and-one opportunity. It is worth noting that not only did SGA practically not make contact with Jaden at all, but he was the one who caused the contact in the first place. Flash to another sequence involving Jaden McDaniels and SGA once again gets called for a foul when Jaden didn’t even make contact with him. Instead, Shai pushed Jaden with his arm and then stepped on Jaden's foot once again, leading to more free throws. These types of calls plagued the Timberwolves’ last game with the players, including Anthony Edwards, visibly becoming upset at the ridiculous nature of what was transpiring before them. However, while frustrating to the players, these types of calls may not be entirely Shai’s fault.
The truth is that if the refs would stop calling these types of plays fouls, then Shai wouldn’t be labeled a free-throw merchant. You only get the free throws a ref gives to you. I mean, if you were an NBA player and every time you sold contact to a ref, they would call a foul for you, wouldn’t you keep doing it too? These are free points, essentially. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has discovered that refs will call fouls if he sells it to them, and there is nothing wrong with that philosophy; after all, it will help his team win more games by doing so. Contorting your body in different ways, exaggerating contact, these are aspects of the game that SGA has mastered and reaps the benefits of. That doesn't mean that we fans have to enjoy it, though.
As fans of basketball, we like games to be decided in a free-flowing game. We like to see big shots, good defense, game winners, etc. Games being decided by free throws is anticlimactic and deprives us of the action we desire. While foul baiting is a part of the game, and has been for a long time, it becomes especially annoying when a player as good as Shai does it. His ability to make mid-range shots is one of the best of the generation, his dribbling abilities for a man his size are beyond impressive, and his composure during big moments is something every coach prays for. This makes the added free throws just seem unnecessary.
I say enough of the foul-baiting and, more importantly, enough of the bad calls. It’s the Western Conference Finals. Let the game play out without controversy. Then both the players and the fans can get what they deserve.
