Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Winning 2nd Title Will Motivate Kids to Learn How to Flop, Says Michael Wilbon

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's playing style is leading to more criticism than before.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Winning 2nd Title Will Motivate Kids to Learn How to Flop, Says Michael Wilbon

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Wilbon (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's playing style has sparked debate over flopping and foul-baiting in basketball.
  • Michael Wilbon warns that if Gilgeous-Alexander wins a second title, it may encourage kids to learn flopping techniques.
  • Critics, including Mike Greenberg, find Gilgeous-Alexander's style less entertaining compared to other basketball legends.

The narratives surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are floppers and foul-baiters. Even though they have the obvious qualities that made them champions, those two have taken precedence.

They are exceptionally good defensively, and their team is coached to play well no matter who is called to the floor. That collective mindset is what makes them that good, where opposing teams have to build deep rosters just to keep up with them.

But nowadays, the Thunder’s opponents are also learning how to avoid falling into their baiting tactics. Players are constantly working their way into figuring out how to guard Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates without touching them.

Despite their best efforts, the officials tend to blow the whistle instantly whenever the reigning two-time MVP feigns a foul, or, best, falls to the floor.

Those tactics are turning many who used to defend Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder. But there is a bigger problem on the horizon, as per Michael Wilbon.

Winning covers all this stuff. The deodorant that covers all stink, is winning. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes back-to-back… and he enters next season as a two-time champion and two-time MVP, guess what? There will be kids out on the playground learning how to flop.

Michael Wilbon said on Get Up

The longtime analyst believes that once children learning to play basketball figure out that flopping and foul-baiting will help them win, they would learn that first.

Tyrese Haliburton revealed that players are taught at a junior level to sell fouls. Now, Wilbon believes it can go to the next level once Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC to the 2026 NBA title using these tactics.

RELATED
Spurs Fan Brings Oscar For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander As Flopping Draws Massive Boos Again

ESPN analyst tears into Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s playing style

After Michael Wilbon gave his analogy, he pivoted back to Get Up host Mike Greenberg, who spoke about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s style of play.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor (Image via Kike Garcia/X)

Sometimes watching him play is agonizing. It is not fun… You have to understand that for the rest of us, watching this style of play is not like watching Steph, it’s not like watching Michael Jordan. It’s just not. We’re watching to be entertained.

Mike Greenberg said

The longtime anchor pointed out that he understands that Oklahoma City Thunder fans will love the way their leading superstar is playing. That is what fandom does.

But there is a reason why the rest of the sports world does not appreciate the way the four-time All-Star plays. To Greenberg, this is not exciting basketball the way the league’s all-time greats have played.

Essentially, he was labeling Gilgeous-Alexander as an ‘unethical hooper’ without officially saying so. Now that Commissioner Adam Silver has been publicly asked about it, it seems more and more people are talking about how it is wrong to allow such methods to be used.

RELATED
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Attorneys Send Underdog Sports ‘Cease & Desist’ Letter After Dillon Brooks Game Launch

Former champion questions OKC getting favorable officiating

Since the officiating in this series, particularly pertaining to the Oklahoma City Thunder, has become the most-talked-about point, it was not surprising that everyone on a platform was talking about it.

They are the best I’ve ever seen at playing the game and bending the rules. I just was hoping that the officials, which are supposed to be the best, would not go for all these shenanigans.

Brian Scalabrine said on Run It Back

The former champion understands that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the most heat for this style of play. But when his teammates also do it on a regular basis, the officials must step in.

The former Boston Celtics star suggested that referees should stop calling those fouls and allow the play to continue. Once the Thunder start to realize that they are at a disadvantage when a player flops and falls to the floor, this will stop.

Also Read: