Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is right in the thick of the MVP race alongside Nikola Jokic, and he's not letting any criticism slow him down. Despite his stellar play, some fans have labeled him as "easy to guard," focusing on his frequent trips to the free-throw line. But for the 2025 NBA champion, it's all just "part of the business."
Throughout the season, Gilgeous-Alexander has faced scrutiny for his reliance on free throws, with whispers about favorable calls from referees. However, the 2025 NBA Finals MVP remains unfazed, brushing off the chatter with a cool comparison to Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.
“You’ll never hear an OKC fan complain about my free throws," he noted. "It’s just part of the business.
But I love it, it creates buzz around the game. It creates rivalries.”
Indeed, the Thunder star seems unfazed by the criticism. Recently, he matched a record held by LeBron James, further cementing his place among the elite.
Averaging 9.1 free throws this season, Gilgeous-Alexander points out that his numbers are actually lower than Luka Doncic's 10.3. Back in 2022-23, he had a double-digit free-throw average, but since Oklahoma was a 10th-seeded team, it went largely unnoticed.
Adding to the conversation, NBA legend Reggie Miller has come to Gilgeous-Alexander's defense. During a game against the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown criticized the Thunder star for a controversial call, and even Knicks head coach Mike Brown weighed in, saying Gilgeous-Alexander "does a great job of convincing referees … that he’s getting hit.” But Miller, speaking on the ‘Dan Patrick Show,’ dismissed the criticism, comparing it to the likes of Michael Jordan and James Harden, who also frequented the line.
As the free-throw debate rages on, fans are eager to see how this narrative unfolds.