Doris Burke’s Strong Statement on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Amid Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated May 26, 2025 11:10 PM ET

The Minnesota Timberwolves responded strongly in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals after losing the first two games to the Oklahoma City Thunder in lopsided fashion.

They turned the tables in Game 3 on Saturday and pulverized the Thunder by a final score of 143-101 in order to get on the board in this best-of-seven.

At halftime of Game 4, the Thunder led Minnesota 65-57, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 21 points to that point. As usual, he's getting to the free throw line — he converted five of his six attempts from the foul line in the first half.

In the second quarter, when he drew a foul on Minnesota center Rudy Gobert in the act of shooting, ESPN commentator Doris Burke called him a "free throw merchant" because of how adept he is at getting foul calls in his favor.

“This is why he’s [SGA] called a free throw merchant.”

Doris Burke on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
pic.twitter.com/MewPMSHsFi
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 27, 2025

During the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander attempted 8.8 free throws a game, and even better, he made 89.8% of those attempts. It was a big reason he led the NBA with an average of 32.7 points a game and was named the regular-season MVP.

Some fans have complained about the way in which he draws fouls, saying the OKC star tries to manipulate or bait opponents into fouling him. But it is all fair game, and SGA has brought the Thunder, who won 68 games during the regular season, to within two wins of an NBA Finals appearance.

What makes the number of fouls he draws even more impressive is the fact that he's 6-foot-6 but weighs just 195 pounds.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: