You can expect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to put up a solid show whenever the Oklahoma City Thunder come into town. He rolled into Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with his chin up, ready to unleash himself against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Thunder took Game 1 by defeating the Timberwolves by 114-88.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished the game with 31 points, shooting 11-14 free throws, and he got into the act in the 4th quarter with 7:00 minutes left to play.
The play leading to the foul became viral on social media as SGA, being SGA, knocked down free throws after an incredible running shot.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Brings the House Down With a Circus Shot
As the clock struck 7:00, Gilgeous-Alexander raced to the basket with Jaden McDaniels all over him. He stepped inside, and McDaniels fouled him as he lost his balance and put up an acrobatic shot to get the three-point play. It went in, and the crowd couldn’t contain their excitement.
TOUGH FINISH WHILE FALLING DOWN FROM SGA 🥶 pic.twitter.com/MoJe75p8aC
— ESPN (@espn) May 21, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down the free throw as the sun always rises in the east. It became another circus shot to add to his portfolio of viral moments for the 2024-25 regular season. The OKC Thunder official X page posted a video of his play and commented, “LIKE HOW ⁉️.”
However, some fans didn’t buy his circus shot. With calls of Gilgeous-Alexander flopping to get the referee’s attention, some fans commented on his diving antics on social media. Questions have been asked about how SGA does foul-baiting in most games, as fans didn’t appreciate the number of fouls drawn by Gilgeous-Alexander through these means.
Hence, some fanatics mentioned, “No reason to fall down on this play, also no foul,” stating that it was never a foul. Another user said, “Bro just falls over for nothing left and right,” while another posted, “UNREAL FLOP.”
It’s a cause for concern for the MVP, as most fans disagree with his foul-baiting techniques. On the other hand, can he be so good at drawing fouls that people get fed up with how he does it perfectly?
If you look at his stats, you will see that he’s drawn 280 shooting fouls and converted 61 And1s in the 2024-25 regular season. Likewise, in the playoffs, he’s played 11 games, drawn 41 shooting fouls, and attempted 8.7 free throws. Those numbers and an 85.4% free-throw percentage make him an offensive machine.
It’s incredible to see Gilgeous-Alexander get going on the court. Apart from free throws, his remarkable footwork gets him points in bunches through mid-range jumpers and effective fadeaways.
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It’s thrilling to see him play, but calls of foul-baiting always stand out for Gilgeous-Alexander. Most fans don’t believe he’s the rightful MVP winner, as Nikola Jokić averaged a triple-double season.
But one thing’s for sure. Gilgeous-Alexander’s resurgence to the top has made OKC one of the best teams in the NBA, and they are the favorites for the NBA championship.
