Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Hate Needs a Chill Pill

So this is very odd timing to write, considering last night's drubbing by the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Oklahoma City Thunder to make this a series. You see though it doesn't matter when, where, or how this needs to be stated ASAP. So here’s the thing: since Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP announcement, I’ve seen a flurry of hate online towards his game, inciting terms like foul-baiter, frontrunner, and the usual “overrated in general” crowd. I'm here to say, straightforward... Dudes...Shut up.

Also quick side note on the series: It is crazy how in the NBA you go from one game winning by 26 to the next losing by 40+. Shocking, yes some nights you are on or off shooting wise, but that's an almost 70 point swing. OOF. Okay back to the real ish...

Lets gets get it out in the open, SGA is a top 10, if not top 5, player in this league, there’s no doubt about it. You do not just accidentally foul-bait your way into 32.7 PPG, 6.4 AST, 5 REB, and 1.7 STLS while leading your team to the #1 seed in the Western Conference. Oh, also, this is his third consecutive year averaging 30+ and shooting over 50% from the field. The over 50% from the field with the volume he is expected to shoot at is very good, and too back it up with 38% from 3s this year is outstanding. His midrange game is unparallel in the league right now.

I’m starting with the numbers because for some of the Twitter-fingered people out there, they need to see them. Rather than taking random screenshots of SGA making a face after likely contact and spinning it into “this dude wasn’t even touched. What a bitch." Then they go back to downing four more beers and finish off their 3-day-old Pizza Hut pretzel crust thinking how they could play back in the day. These Twitter “coaches” or “analysts” are hilarious, choosing to jump on one guy and overanalyze his every move.

Of course ignoring the obvious. Let’s not even mention that Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Haliburton, Trae Young...and so on, ALL FOUL BAIT. But no, they find one dude and attempt to tear down his entire game, cause they are mad about his games style. Which usually means they don't understand the game, right? Lets be honest. OH also, never mind the fact that he has a better field goal percentage this postseason than Edwards, Haliburton, and Brunson. Nahhh, instead let’s whine about how he shoots “so many free throws.” It makes me sick to watch him be more crafty and use ball screens to get into switches with guys who can’t guard him and foul him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nctPRqEOyC4

OPE… did I just say that? Damn, my bad, I was totally saving that one for later. But could it just be that simple? That he’s so talented, crafty, and smart that he puts himself in great spots, while at the same time the defense is off-balance? Nooo, it can’t be that, because randos on Twitter don’t know about those nuances. Then I'm wrong, they can't existed. So it has to be a ref-friendly whistle or an NBA conspiracy. Right.

Yes, at times it gives me a chuckle to see people online who “think they know ball” make these comments, but at a point, it just becomes redonkulous. Yes, I’m so fired up I pulled out a redonkulous. SGA is one of the quickest, smoothest, and smartest players in this league with a basketball in his hands. We can sit here and debate his MVP case against Nikola Jokic in a fact-based manner. I'm here for all that cause both players are on top of the game this year.

But to slander him as a lowly foul-baiter, and not the man who has put OKC back into title contention and helped put Canada on the world stage fighting for medals, is just blatantly not knowing ball.

So go ahead, folks...continue to hurt your “I-know-ball” credentials, because SGA is an unbiased and unanimous certified top-tier NBA baller.