Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn’t care less about ‘free-throw merchant’ label

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn’t care less about ‘free-throw merchant’ label

While there’s still over half the 2024-25 NBA Season to go, we are on track to have one of the tightest scoring champion races in NBA history. Three individuals–Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (31.4), Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.4) and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (31.2)–are all vying for that award and are well ahead of the next pack of players (Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, De’Aaron Fox, Anthony Davis, etc.).

None of those three are prolific 3-point shooters, either, though Gilgeous-Alexander does lead the trio in 3-point attempts per game (5.8) and percentage of shots taken from 3-point range (27.7). Though there is, what some may label, an unfair tag on Gilgeous-Alexander; he’s oftentimes called a “free-throw merchant,” apropos to Antetokounmpo’s “run and dunk man” sticker that he acquired as he surged up leaderboards as one of the NBA’s best players.

Gilgeous-Alexander was recently asked about whether or not that disparaging tag bothered him. He had a great response to why he wasn’t:

“None at all. In the past couple of years, I led the NBA in drives,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, according to Clemente Almanza of the OKC Thunder Wire. “So I think naturally, I’m going to get fouled on drives. Usually, you get fouled on drives more than jump shots. I think that’s just a natural part of the game. And then I learned a few tricks through the trade along my way. I’ve turned it into a skill a little bit. As far as what people say, I don’t really care. As long as it’s efficient offense and my team wins, I’ll get it done.”

Ironically enough, Antetokounmpo is on his way to leading the NBA in total free-throw attempts for the third straight season and the fourth time in five seasons. His uber-physical style of play at 6-foot-11, 240-pounds is largely responsible for that; when he has a head of steam, there aren’t many ways to stop him.

The same can be said about Gilgeous-Alexander, but in a different light. There aren’t many players with as much wiggle, quick-twitch and ability to change pace in tight spaces as the 6-foot-6 guard–especially inside the arc.

He’s a mid-range maestro, taking 46 percent of his shots in the mid-range where he converts at a 51 percent clip (95th percentile), per Cleaning The Glass. He does an excellent job leveraging his ability to change direction into rim pressure, where he gets fouled fairly frequently.

2024-25 Vendetta NBA Power Rankings: January

Gilgeous-Alexander is second in free-throw attempts while leading in free-throw makes. He’s also on his way to top the NBA in field goals made for the first time ever after finishing No. 4 and 6 in those two categories over the last two years, respectively.

He’s one of the toughest guards in the NBA–figuratively and literally. Points are also points, and if you don’t have any haters (he clearly does), then you’re doing something wrong. Just know that he’s well on his way to another efficient season scoring 30-plus points, and there’s not much that any defense will be able to do about it.

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