One of the early irritants was Dillon Brooks, when he played for Memphis and they battled the Minnesota Timberwolves in two straight NBA Play-In Tournaments. Last year, we grew frustrated with how impossible Nikola Jokic is to stop, no matter which avenue you choose to slow him down. Then, there’s Luka Doncic and his constant whining to officials… etc.

But through two games of the 2024-25 Western Conference Finals, the NBA’s newly-named Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has quickly made us all miss Luka’s patented hands up, crybaby face and Joker’s artistic abilities as a big man.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ruining basketball

No matter how crazy those things once drove us, they did not ruin the game of basketball for everybody watching. The same cannot be said for Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s phony superpower to deceive NBA referees made him into the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player.

SGA GRABS the defenders arm and gets 2 free throws 💀 pic.twitter.com/tfMbQkOUr2

— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) May 23, 2025

They called this a foul on Jaden McDaniels. Shai’s steps right in between his legs and pulls his foot back against Jaden’s foot. There’s no contact. Shai is pushing him with his arm and generates all the contact. pic.twitter.com/v0ZqjeufA9

— will jones ⚒️ (@Will_d_jones) May 21, 2025

The way SGA initiates contact with defenders, then flops to the ground, in order to draw a foul, makes the beautiful game of basketball into a maddening broadway play starring SGA and what appears a hypnotic spell that he holds over NBA refs night in and night out.

Sure, the Minnesota Timberwolves have played like crap through two games, including two devastating third quarters that have pretty much ended both contests early. And what these OKC Thunder sympathizers all simultaneously argue is correct. Playing against Shai and the Thunder is a mental and physical grind.

Related: Timberwolves Big Man Rudy Gobert Narrowly Makes Another NBA All-Defensive Team

What pundits and former players like Jason Williams (ESPN) and Brendan Haywood (NBA TV) refuse to acknowledge, however, is that OKC’s swarming defense is only a part of that maddening equation. In fact, I’d argue it is a small percentage of what wears down Thunder opponents… but here are the arguments anyway.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks 23rd in free throw attempts among players who averaged 30+ PPG since 2005 — and just 10th among the last 20 MVPs

Maybe the ‘foul merchant’ talk is overblown 😬

pic.twitter.com/t6QvdqAMbh

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 22, 2025

** Free-Throw Merchant MVP**

They called it greatness when MJ, Kobe & LeBron did it. Now it’s fraud when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does? Wild. pic.twitter.com/sUzUkYj5PD

— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) May 23, 2025

Toss out whatever stats and free throw numbers you want, guys. All of the evidence is right there in front of us while the game is unfolding. Much of Shai’s greatness is built on his foul-baiting mastermind capabilities. The numbers all become irrelevant when you watch just one game.

‘The Minnesota Timberwolves are crumbling under OKC’s defensive pressure…’

This one is my favorite. The idea that Minnesota can’t mentally withstand the toll OKC put on defensively for 48 minutes. Come on, have we all forgotten that the Timberwolves haven’t taken care of the basketball all year.

Now, we are supposed to believe that turnovers vs the Thunder are suddenly driving the Minnesota Timberwolves off a mental ledge in the Western Conference Finals? That this is somehow the first time these professional basketball players have been pressed and suffocated by opportunistic defenders during the course of their basketball lives?

Thankfully, some sanity still remains in this world. Not everyone who watches these games is buying into the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander propaganda machine. There are some, like former Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone, who have realized what is happening. Here’s Malone after game one, then again after game two.

"[Shai] showed why he's the MVP."

Mike Malone, former coach of the Denver Nuggets, calls SGA the MVP 👀 pic.twitter.com/v8J4m4QOil

— Underdog (@Underdog) May 21, 2025

Malone: "It's almost impossible. A lot of times offensive players like Shai will initiate the contact or hook his arm looking to draw that contact. He is a foul artist" https://t.co/Kr8ODLnZd6 pic.twitter.com/a1MvBKDT13

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 23, 2025

Mike Malone, others not buy Shai Gilgeous-Alexander propaganda

Have at that mainstream narrative if you want it. But to me, the only thing noticeably different about playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder — as opposed to other teams, at any and all levels of the game — is the referee whistle that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets, compared to anyone else who as played… ever.

Then, let’s toss in the physicality OKC plays defense with — along with the calls Minnesota isn’t getting on the other end — and yeah, there is going to be a high level of frustration building up, especially for those tasked with the impossible responsibility of limiting Shai. Just ask Jaden McDaniels…

Jaden is all of us. We are Jaden. pic.twitter.com/GFyBO3D6tf

— John Meyer (@meyerNBA) May 23, 2025

Jaden McDaniels on his flagrant call after shoving Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander:

"I just wanted to foul him. I wasn't even mad I just had fouls to use" pic.twitter.com/8bVd7cHHKY

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 23, 2025

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards Fined Again

Others obviously see it too (including Naz Reid). Hell, all you need is two working eyeballs, something referees clearly do not have when they officiate a game including SGA.

Naz Reid to the OKC Thunder 👀

“Stop flopping, That’s bad hoop bro.” pic.twitter.com/SQZD3uehPF

— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) May 23, 2025

Is it safe to say that Shai has passed prime Harden as a generational free throw merchant? Grabbing a defenders arm and getting free throws is CRAZY work 🤷🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/sK2YzsdpLy

— Jacob (@Jacobtheclipper) May 23, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ruining basketball.

And no matter the stat you show me, it won’t take away from what I watched last night. pic.twitter.com/FPkTezlg1J

— Leighton James (@LGlodek) May 21, 2025

And game one played out just as the sportsbooks expected, only worse. A 114-88 blowout Thunder win. While the Wolves did themselves no favors, shooting (15-of-51 from deep) and turning the ball over 19 times (leading to 31 points OKC points off turnovers), it was Shai’s close-knit relationship with NBA referees that stole the show, postgame.

Minnesota Timberwolves fighting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander + NBA referees

Commonly known as “The Free Throw Merchant”, Gilgeous-Alexander drew so many ridiculous referee whistles Tuesday night that it often felt like they were shooting a 2000s Juelz Santana music video. In the second half, when the Minnesota Timberwolves went ice-cold from deep, it was time for the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Show, starring Shai and the Refs.

A little flop here, a trip there and well-timed flail of here… the MVP went 11-of-14 from the free throw line. The Wolves went 15-of-21 as a team. No other player on either team shot more than seven free throws in game one.

And it isn’t just locally that Shai’s flop whistles are garnering attention. Nationally, many pundits around the league saw what Minnesota Timberwolves fans did. The whistle SGA gets is unlike anything ever really seen before and it’s something that can, in and of itself, shift an entire playoff series. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons talked about just that, after game one.

“I feel like Shai is getting this whistle that nobody else in the playoffs is getting.”@BillSimmons and @ZachLowe_NBA react to Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. pic.twitter.com/DScRLtHmew

— The Ringer (@ringer) May 21, 2025

“I feel like Shai is getting this whistle that nobody else in the playoffs is getting. Where there’s these little touch fouls, or these bumps where you’re not even sure who initiated the bumps and he’s just getting it. If you’re Minnesota, the one thing you’re going to come out of the game is we have to get a better whistle on these SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) calls.”

Bill Simmons – The Ringer

None of this is to say that SGA isn’t a great player. You don’t score a league-leading 32.7 points per game by accident. But what would he be without the foul calls he piles up game in and game out, that even other NBA superstars (cough Anthony Edwards) do not? He certainly wouldn’t be averaging over 30 points per game, that’s for sure.

Related: Anthony Edwards Unphased by Timberwolves Loss; Shocked by Postgame Box Score

At 7.9 made free throws per game, there isn’t another player in the league who makes more freebies than SGA, the second-straight season that’s been the case. Attacking the rim, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does so well, will naturally lead to free throws. But other guards attack the rim too, and they don’t get these calls.

SMOOTH AND-1 FROM SHAI ⚡ pic.twitter.com/W0j20WFaUp

— ESPN (@espn) May 21, 2025

At no point to Jaden initiate contact here. pic.twitter.com/RuYtWOHVmo

— Ted (@tlschwerz) May 21, 2025

Chris Finch and the Minnesota Timberwolves knew that Shai’s quick whistle was going to play a part in this series. What they cannot do, is let it affect the ultimate outcome. It’s also up to the referees. They need to watch the tape, too. Because, while SGA & Co. made the Wolves look bad in game one, no doubt the referees look just as bad.

CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn, during his postgame takeaways, noted how effective Shai’s flopping was in game one, and talked for a bit about how big of an issue it is for the NBA. SGA has made foul-baiting such a major part of his game that he has referees eating out of his hand.

“That is the problem here. It’s not that Gilgeous-Alexander is foul-baiting, but that it’s working. The burden here is on the league to both enforce its existing rules properly and to change broken rules that players learn how to exploit. Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday was a reminder to the league to do both, because, despite Oklahoma City’s incredible defensive performance, all anyone is talking about is what the presumptive MVP managed to get away with.”

Sam Quinn – CBS Sports

It’s so bad that games involving the OKC Thunder often turn into unwatchable, slow-moving slop fests that drag out and make playoff basketball unsatisfying to watch. Here, we are used to seeing Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards get completely mugged and receive no help from NBA referees.

Anthony Edwards big mad at “cheatin a** refs”

Despite scoring a team-high 27 points in the win, Edwards only had one subject on his mind after. While shaking hands and dapping up teammates, a camera caught Ant complaining to (or at least near) a camera about them “cheatin’ ass refs”.

Anthony Edwards postgame after the win against the Thunder:

"Cheatin' A** Refs" 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/xn9ESyM0aj

— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) January 30, 2024

Then, in his on-court postgame interview, Anthony Edwards was asked how the Wolves managed to take down the other top team in the Western Conference, on the road. Edwards reacted in disbelief at how he and his teammates accomplished such a feat, given how bad the refs were.

Related: NBA Insider Reveals Kevin Garnett Could Join Minnesota Timberwolves After Glen Taylor Sale

Ant knew he was going to get fined, and said as much, but didn’t care. Than, he extended gratitude to his coaches and teammates for their support in securing such an impossible win.

Anthony Edwards didn’t hold back on the refs tonight

pic.twitter.com/jGwCH3mxHD

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 30, 2024

Reporter: “Ant, tonight it was the battle amongst the best in the west, you guys take sole position of number in the west, how did you get it done in this environment?”

Edwards: “I don’t know, I don’t know and ima take the fine cause the refs did not give us no calls tonight, we had to play through every bump, every grab, I don’t know, I don’t know how we won tonight, big shout to my team and my coaches for sure.”

Were the refs that bad?

Was the officiating that bad? Minnesota received 19 fouls compared to the Thunder’s 17, but Oklahoma City had 22 free throw attempts, vs just 15 for Minnesota. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, alone, shot more free throws on the night that the Wolves (15).

Edwards guarded SGA in and out for much of the night and Shai took the responsibility of guarding him a lot too. Both guys consider themselves elite perimeter defenders. So, the disparity between the 16 free throws Gilgeous-Alexander shot, compared to Ant’s four (he made all four), explains his frustrations postgame.

Related: Which Timberwolves Big Man Deserves NBA All-Star Nod More, KAT or Rudy Gobert?

Nonetheless, the 22-year-old former Georgia Bulldog led the Wolves with 27 points, in addition to contributing 4 assists and 4 rebounds. This picture below tells you just about everything you need to know, too. There was no foul called on this dunk.

🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜 pic.twitter.com/aZV8d2pSCl

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 30, 2024

The last time Anthony Edwards complained about the refs was after these two teams met, not even two weeks ago. Again, the subject was SGA, who Ant said is impossible to guard because he gets all the calls. Of which, Shai responded with a backhanded shot at Edwards, via instagram.

Related: 5 Players that Fit Minnesota Timberwolves Perfectly at NBA Trade Deadline

SGA delivered a standout performance with 33 points, six assists, and two rebounds, while Edwards contributed 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists. After being fouled on a three-point attempt with just three seconds left on the clock, Ant had a chance to send the game to overtime with three free throws. But he missed all three, giving the Thunder the victory.

Anthony Edwards brought his frustrations into the locker room, where he had a very awkward interview, calling out Shai Gilgeous Alexander for all the foul calls he gets. A postgame rant that was outside the spectrum of what we usually see from the young blossoming superstar.

Anthony Edwards on trying to shutdown the OKC Thunder. pic.twitter.com/46H2LomOot

— SneakerReporter (@SneakerReporter) January 21, 2024

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Claps Back at Anthony Edwards

Gilgeous-Alexander, who is also known for his clever Instagram captions, took a slight shot back at Anthony Edwards in his most recent post. The caption reads, “they talk about me for my post game, not my postgame”, clearly referring to the attention surrounding Ant’s postgame interview.

Rivalry For Years To Come?

Related: Joel Embiid Wants to be Like Anthony Edwards; Stephen A. Smith Obsessed Too

Given Edwards is just 22 and Gilgeous-Alexander is 25, combined with the fact that they are in the same division and conference, we can anticipate witnessing this matchup frequently over the next decade.

The Thunder and Wolves play each other only one more time this season (Jan. 29) before possibly meeting in the playoffs again. Here’s how their 2023-24 series stands right now.