Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't the free throw merchant you think he is

USA Today

21-05-2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't the free throw merchant you think he is
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win's basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here's Prince J. Grimes.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is slowly climbing up the list of the NBA's most polarizing players. The funny thing about it is he's doing it without ever really talking much.
He's not a big personality or someone who draws a lot of attention off the court. He seems to just go to work, do his job and go home. Yet, it's what he does while at work that has NBA fans completely divided on the league's soon to be announced MVP.
Tuesday night's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was a perfect example why.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 26-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves by scoring a game-high 31 points to go with nine assists and three steals. But 11 of those points came from the free throw line where he had 14 attempts -- twice as many as the next-closest player, Anthony Edwards. Thus, the reason Gilgeous-Alexander is increasingly becoming known as a foul or free throw "merchant." Some fans really can't stand how crafty he is in drawing fouls and doing what they consider to be flopping to get to the line.
Here's the thing, though, he might not be the free-throw merchant people think he is.
While it's true Gilgeous-Alexander gets to the line a lot -- he has the second-most attempts behind Giannis Antetokounmpo each of the last two years -- his 9.2 attempts per game this postseason don't rank very high historically. According to research by Tom Haberstroh, Gilgeous-Alexander's 110 attempts over 12 playoff games actually ranks just 406th all-time.
It's a point Amin El-Hassan made on the Dan Le Batard Show, with research that said SGA's absolute best season in terms of free throws attempted per 100 possessions ranked outside the all-time top 30. More research from FS1's Danny Parkins showed SGA has never been the NBA's leading free-throw shooter despite leading the NBA in drives per game in five straight years.
Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to get to the line shouldn't be understated, but it isn't as extraordinary as people make it out to be.
So, why are so many people turning on the 26-year-old's style of play?
Even if Gilgeous-Alexander isn't historically great at drawing fouls, he does get to the line more than a lot of his peers -- and he's incredibly crafty in the ways he gets there. The way SGA forces the action puts referees in a tough spot where they feel they have to blow the whistle. Which is part of the problem. Sometimes they get it wrong. But that's not Gilgeous-Alexander's problem, and quite honestly, more players could take notes.
The same people mad at SGA for actually getting into the lane and seeking contact should be more frustrated that one of the most athletically gifted players in the NBA, Edwards, attempted almost as many three-pointers as the entire OKC starting lineup Tuesday. As a team, Minnesota shot 51 threes (and only made 11). It's a page straight out of the Boston Celtics playbook, which so many teams are copying today.
When teams are shooting that many threes, it's no wonder why it's so odd to see a player shooting as many free throws as Gilgeous-Alexander. We might not know what a foul looks like any more.
Pacers vs. Knicks will be spicy
The latest chapter in the rivalry between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks will be written in this year's Eastern Conference Finals, and the first page begins with tonight's Game 1.
After last year's seven-game series in the second round, the rematch has a chance to go the distance again and either team could ultimately come out on top. FTW's Mike Sykes came up with three reasons why each team could ultimately win, and you'll absolutely want to check these out.
One reason for the Pacers is that they have the best offensive rhythm in the NBA:
"A whopping 68.9 percent of the Pacers' buckets are assisted on in these playoffs. A lot of that starts with Tyrese Haliburton, who is arguably the best passer in the NBA. But it isn't just Tyrese — each player at each position for Indiana can grab a rebound and push the pace after a miss on defense or bring the ball up quickly after a make before the defense is completely set. It's a team filled with advantage-creators, which is extremely hard to deal with."
One reason for the Knicks is that Jalen Brunson is awesome:
"Brunson has been generally awesome for the Knicks in this postseason as the straw that stirs the drink for the team. But where he's shone the most is in the fourth quarter, where his team has desperately needed him to come through the most. Brunson currently leads the playoffs in fourth quarter points and clutch points, according to Underdog Sports. It's not particularly close."
I can't wait for this one.
Shootaround