Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got candid about getting to the free-throw line after the OKC Thunder blew out the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday.
In the game, Gilgeous-Alexander shot 17 free throws, and 15 of them as the Thunder took control early and never looked back to beat the Suns, 119-84.
Gilgeous-Alexander attributed his knack for earning referees’ calls and free throws to his frequency of drives to the baskets. The reigning MVP said attacking defenders and going to the rim will almost always allow the offensive players to fish for fouls.
“When you drive the ball a lot, you get fouled a lot just because most of the fouls happen on drives,” he said. “And I drive the ball a lot, so that probably adds up to it.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on what goes into getting to the free throw line 🗣️
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 9.0 free throws per game, the second-most in the league this season behind LA Lakers’ Luka Doncic, who records 10.1 attempts per game.
According to NBA.com, Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 18.8 drives per game, the third-most this season. Boston Celtics’ Jalen Brown recorded the second-most in the league with 19.1 drives, while Deni Avdija led the league with 19.4 per game.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 25 points, four rebounds, and seven assists. He struggled from the field, shooting 5-of-18 from the field, including 0-of-4 from the 3-point line.
Nevertheless, the Thunder looked dominant from start to finish as Jalen Williams provided an extra offensive punch with 22 points while Chet Holmgren chipped in 16 markers.
The win marked the start of the Thunder’s title defense. A championship this season would make them the first team to win back-to-back titles in eight years.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Says Consistency Allows Him to be Better in Getting Fouls
GettyOklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been in the NBA since 2018, transforming from a herky-jerky ball handler into a legitimate No. 1 option for a championship team.
Throughout the years, Gilgeous-Alexander has made himself an offensive machine by his sheer will to drive to the paint. According to him, he got so much better at getting fouls through constant improvement in different aspects of his game.
“I’ve just tried to get better at many aspects over the years I’ve been in the league and try to be able to attack teams’ defenses in multiple ways,” he said. I feel like I’ve done so, I’ve been able to score a few points because of it.”
This year, Gilgeous-Alexander also shot a career-best 38.6% from the 3-point area, adding more variety to his offensive game.
However, he remained notorious to fans and opposing teams for his perceived foul-baiting tendencies. Despite it, the Thunder maintained their aggressive approach on offense, resulting in 64 wins in the regular season and the top seed in the Western Conference for the third straight year.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Takes on the Suns Again on Wednesday
GettyShai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to lead the OKC Thunder once more in Game 2 against the Suns.
The Thunder and the Suns will meet again for Game 2 on Wednesday, April 22, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
After Game 1, the Suns are expected to adjust to the Thunder’s aggressiveness on both ends of the floor. A better start would also help correct what they did wrong in the series opener.
Game 3 will then happen on Saturday, April 25, in Phoenix. The Suns hope they would not be going back to their home floor down two games in the series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals True Feelings About Getting Free Throws