Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a dream season. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar is the MVP frontrunner, a style icon, and the face of Converse. His signature sneaker, the SHAI001, has been making waves, and he just secured a high-profile feature in Drake’s new music video “Nokia.”
On paper, everything seems perfect. But as it turns out, not everyone is thrilled about his appearance alongside the Canadian rap legend.
Fans Roast Shai Gilgeous-Alexander After His Cameo
Drake dropped the much-anticipated music video, “Nokia” on March 31, featuring a brief cameo from Gilgeous-Alexander.
The 26-year-old guard didn’t do much though – he stood in frame, dressed in basketball kicks, briefly pulled his hood up, and gave the camera a low-key vibe. But that was enough to send fans into critics mode.
One viewer, completely unimpressed, wrote, “Losers will always hang with losers.”
Another took a shot at his public persona, claiming he had suffered a “Loss of aura.”
The connection between Gilgeous-Alexander and Drake isn’t new. Both are Canadian stars who have been seen dapping each other up after games.
Earlier in March, Drake even flexed Gilgeous-Alexander’s signature shoes before their official release. So, appearing in the video might have been Drake’s way of giving him a nod.
But some fans saw it differently and it didn’t take long for the infamous “Drake Curse” narrative to resurface. Some claimed the appearance would ruin Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP chances, with one post joking:
“Yupp congrats SGA, Drake just cursed you bro. Jokic for MVP.”
Another added, “Yup dropped 5 ranks for MVP now.”
Gilgeous-Alexander Continues To Dominate
Of course, Gilgeous-Alexander’s numbers tell a different story. He’s played 71 games this season, averaging 32.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. But in the world of online debates, superstition often trumps statistics.
Gilgeous-Alexander has undoubtedly built a reputation as one of the NBA’s most stylish players, and his influence stretches far beyond the court. But even that wasn’t safe from criticism. One fan took a shot at his originality, posting:
“Doesn’t have any originality in his body anywhere.”
Another went straight for his playing style, calling him a “foul merchant.”: “Lost all respect for the foul merchant”
Of course, social media reactions don’t always tell the full story. Many of Gilgeous-Alexander’s fans will surely see the cameo as another sign of his rising stardom.
And with a potential MVP trophy and a $293 million supermax extension on the horizon, he probably won’t lose much sleep over a few Twitter roasts. Meanwhile, OKC is No. 1 in Western Conference with a spot in the playoffs.