Pacers Legend Reggie Miller Fires Back at Growing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 'Flopping' Criticism

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Reggie Miller (Photos by Imagn Images)

Pacers Legend Reggie Miller Fires Back at Growing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 'Flopping' Criticism

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Debmallya Chakraborty | Last updated May 23, 2026 9:57 AM ET

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might be in red-hot form. But the 2-time NBA MVP’s actions on the hardwood have sparked a lot of officiating controversy. Despite the Oklahoma City Thunder’s superstar dropping some incredible performances this season, fans often tend to call him out for alleged foul-baiting. And Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller is not buying any of those accusations.

The fans have been calling out the Oklahoma star for a long time. Thankfully, despite getting the ‘flopper’ taunt, the 27-year-old’s game remains unaffected. In a recent appearance on the ‘Dan Patrick Show,’ Miller fired back at the fans who called Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a ‘foul merchant.’

Miller said, “There’s somewhat of a narrative going around about [Shail, how many times he falls… this OKC [Thunder] team, they’re unbearable to watch, the flopping, the flailing. I love everything about SGA.”

And Miller did not stop there. The NBA legend pointed out how Michael Jordan went to the line more than 10 times. He also added James Harden’s name to the list. Surely, following the historic consecutive MVP wins, the critics have been divided over the 2025 NBA champion’s game. Meanwhile, despite all the noise. Gilgeous-Alexander is making merry in the playoffs.

How Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Playing In The Conference Finals?

The San Antonio Spurs vs the Oklahoma City Thunder was always going to be a thriller. In Game 1, it was Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama who drew first blood. Exploding for 41 points, Wemby led the Spurs to a 1-0 lead. However, that was enough to trigger the champion’s switch within the 2025 NBA Finals MVP.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Image Credits: Imagn)

Playing in Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 30 points, four rebounds, and nine assists to bring the defending champions back into the game. Following the positive surge, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped another 26 points in Game 3, as the Thunder beat the Spurs 123-108 to clinch a 2-1 victory.

Thus, with the 4-time NBA All-Star looking in fiery form, the Spurs will be wary of his threat. And for the fans, it will be an interesting prospect to see how things go down from here.

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

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