One reason Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become a villain to many NBA fans is his ability to draw fouls. The reigning MVP was even given the moniker of “free-throw merchant.” Amid the hate and speculation about favorable calls toward the Thunder, Draymond Green has defended SGA from the narrative.
On the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” the Golden State Warriors star praised SGA for being great at drawing fouls. Green even went further by saying that most of the fouls called on the Thunder superstar are usually right.
Thanks for the submission!
“Quite honestly, Shai is great at drawing fouls,” Green said, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. “He uses your leverage against you. He has mastered the art of drawing a foul. If you watch them, most of them are fouls. And when I say most, I’m talking 90-plus percent of them, they do be fouls.”
•
Draymond Green added that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is similar to James Harden, who was so great at drawing fouls at the height of his career with the Houston Rockets. Harden wasn’t called a “free-throw merchant,” but the NBA had to change the rules about foul baiting in 2022 because of him and Trae Young.
Green also explained why SGA’s ability and how referees officiate him are making a ton of people upset.
“I think back in the old days, officials would see that and be like, ‘I’m not calling it,'” Green said. “And I think that’s the frustration that some people have is it seems that he gets so many of these calls and just some of them the way they look, the way they happen. Officials just, they wouldn’t used to call it, especially in the playoffs, they wouldn’t call it.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to draw fouls and go to the free-throw line was put under the spotlight after their first-round sweep against the Phoenix Suns. Several players made it known that they felt there was a different whistle for the reigning MVP.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trolls Dillon Brooks on Instagram
Known mainly for his stoic and quiet demeanor, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had some fun on social media after the Thunder eliminated the Suns. SGA trolled Dillon Brooks on Instagram, uploading an image of his Canada teammate with the words “Cancun” in the back of his jersey.
There’s nothing personal going on between SGA and Brooks. They were hugging and laughing after the series was over. They appeared to be close friends and teammates for Team Canada. SGA was born and raised in Toronto, while Brooks grew up 30 minutes away in Mississauga.
Edited by Juan Paolo David
