Where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's free-throw attempts rank in NBA MVP history, and why context is important

LeBron James' ex-teammate reveals Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's unapologetic response to free throw merchant label

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder are currently just three wins away from punching their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.

Where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's free-throw attempts rank in NBA MVP history, and why context is important

Gilgeous-Alexander has been accused of foul-baiting throughout his MVP season

Former NBA Champion Defends SGA’s Free Throw Attempts

Richard Jefferson spent 17 years in the NBA playing for eight different teams. He won a title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, coming back from a 3-1 deficit. After his retirement from the league, he spends more time on his podcast with Channing Frye, another player on the 2016 Cavs team. In the latest episode, they talk about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP season and the free throw merchant title fans have given him. His take about SGA and …

Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Really A “Foul Merchant”? Stats Reveal Surprising Truth About MVP’s Free Throw Rate

Despite leading the league in scoring, SGA's free throw attempts rank 27th among MVPs, challenging the "foul merchant" narrative.

"Look at the guys that we talk about...the James Hardens', the SGA's, the Luka's" - Lou Williams says there's nothing wrong with Shai getting the whistle

Williams defends Gilgeous-Alexander from being labeled as a "free-throw merchant."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says nobody cared about his FTs before he was eliminating people’s favorite players and teams

Maybe the most controversial part of Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s game is his penchant for drawing fouls and earning himself trips to the free-throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander has taken 9.2 free throws per game so far in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and there are fans who are skeptical about his approach and whether refs should be rewarding him with free throws as often as they do. But former NBA forward Richard Jefferson recentl…