Game 1 of the Western Conference finals brought a seasons-long debate back to the forefront, as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander polarized the global NBA community once again with his ability to get to the free-throw line. Accusations of foul-baiting have been hurled at SGA for the last few years, but this season’s critiques have been particularly harsh given the success of both himself and his team.
Expect the conversation to only get louder after Gilgeous-Alexander was officially named NBA MVP on Wednesday night. The seventh-year guard put up one of the best offensive seasons in NBA history, leading the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game, but some have devalued his production due to his propensity to draw fouls and earn points from the charity stripe. Others argue that Gilgeous-Alexander is simply taking advantage of the existing rules to help his team win — and it clearly worked this year, as OKC won a league-best 68 games and are three victories away from the NBA Finals.
The thing is, a big-time scorer getting to the line is nothing new. In fact, when you look back at every MVP in league history, Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t even come close to the top in terms of free-throw attempts per game. He ranks 27th, between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
NBA MVP Free Throw Attempts
| Rank | Season | Player | FTA/G | FT/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1959-60 | Wilt Chamberlain | 13.8 | 8 |
| 2. | 1965-66 | Wilt Chamberlain | 12.4 | 6.3 |
| 3. | 1958-59 | Bob Pettit | 12.2 | 9.3 |
| 4. | 1963-64 | Oscar Robertson | 11.9 | 10.1 |
| 5. | 2022-23 | Joel Embiid | 11.7 | 10 |
| 6. | 1967-68 | Wilt Chamberlain | 11.4 | 4.3 |
| 7. | 1966-67 | Wilt Chamberlain | 10.8 | 4.8 |
| 8. | 1987-88 | Michael Jordan | 10.5 | 8.8 |
| 9. | 1955-56 | Bob Pettit | 10.5 | 7.7 |
| 10. | 1994-95 | David Robinson | 10.5 | 8.1 |
| 11. | 1999-00 | Shaquille O’Neal | 10.4 | 5.5 |
| 12. | 2016-17 | Russell Westbrook | 10.4 | 8.8 |
| 13. | 2009-10 | LeBron James | 10.2 | 7.8 |
| 14. | 1981-82 | Moses Malone | 10.2 | 7.8 |
| 15. | 2017-18 | James Harden | 10.1 | 8.7 |
| 16. | 2000-01 | Allen Iverson | 10.1 | 8.2 |
| 17. | 1982-83 | Moses Malone | 10.1 | 7.7 |
| 18. | 2019-20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 10 | 6.3 |
| 19. | 2013-14 | Kevin Durant | 9.9 | 8.7 |
| 20. | 1978-79 | Moses Malone | 9.9 | 7.3 |
| 21. | 1998-99 | Karl Malone | 9.8 | 7.7 |
| 22. | 1974-75 | Bob McAdoo | 9.7 | 7.8 |
| 23. | 2018-19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 9.5 | 6.9 |
| 24. | 2008-09 | LeBron James | 9.4 | 7.3 |
| 25. | 1971-72 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 9 | 6.2 |
| 26. | 2007-08 | Kobe Bryant | 9 | 7.6 |
| 27. | 2024-25 | Shai Gilegous-Alexander | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| 28. | 1997-98 | Michael Jordan | 8.8 | 6.9 |
| 29. | 2001-02 | Tim Duncan | 8.5 | 6.8 |
| 30. | 1996-97 | Karl Malone | 8.4 | 6.4 |
It’s also important to mention that Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in field goal attempts per game this season with 21.8, so he was clearly doing work outside of the free-throw line as well.
There is notable context for Gilgeous-Alexander’s relatively low free-throw attempt rate, however, because NBA players shot fewer free throws per 100 possessions in 2024-25 than any year in league history, according to Basketball-Reference. That means that while, yes, Gilgeous-Alexander shot fewer free throws than many of his MVP brethren, he also had more makes per game (7.9) than any other player during the 2024-25 season.
This isn’t a debate that’s likely to die down any time soon. Throughout league history, as you can see, the most consistent way to put up high scoring numbers is to get to the free-throw line. And it stands to reason that the league’s most prolific scorers would be more difficult to guard and therefore draw more fouls.
No matter how you feel about the way that Gilgeous-Alexander gets his points, you can’t argue with his effectiveness, and he deserves all the credit for winning his first MVP.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Gotham, Tigres advance to Concacaf Champions Cup Final
Gotham FC is set to clash with Tigres UANL in Saturday’s inaugural final of the Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup.Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and Tigres UANL of Liga Mx Femenil have advanced to the final with emphatic victories over Club América and the Portland Thorns.Gotham topped América 3-1, navigating through windy and rainy conditions Wednesday evening at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, Mexico. Tigres’ two unanswered goals against the Thorns in the first 28 minutes of the game sealed their fate later that night.AdvertisementThe NWSL side started strong, with Brazilian striker Geyse volleying home a corner from Sarah Schupansky in the 21st minute, her second goal for the team since arriving from Manchester United in March. Gotham’s second goal came from a penalty by Midge Purce, who also drew the foul in the box, her first since her […]
Why Yankees’ Jasson Domínguez impressed Aaron Judge before walk-off home run vs. Rangers
NEW YORK — The surprise ice bath was the result of the walk-off home run.The walk-off home run was the result of not just a center-cut slider and Jasson Domínguez’s powerful bat, but more than a month of steady improvements at the plate from the 22-year-old rookie.That was according to star Aaron Judge, who heaped praise on Domínguez after his solo shot in the ninth inning gave the New York Yankees a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers and sent Yankee Stadium into a frenzy.Advertisement“Just continuing to improve on his approach,” Judge said. “The swings he’s taking on pitches in the zone — (when) teams leave pitches in the zone on him, he’s hammering them. That’s the biggest thing: approach. Ironing that out.”The blast was the Yankees’ first walk-off home run since Giancarlo Stanton crushed a walk-off grand slam on […]
Oilers bemoan loss of control in Game 1: ‘We’ve got to be an awful lot more mature’
DALLAS – The Edmonton Oilers were mostly in control for the first two periods of Game 1 on Wednesday and, with a two-goal lead, seemed poised to cruise to their ninth win in their last 10 games.And then a combination of a string of penalties and an inability to kill them torpedoed those prospects.AdvertisementThe Oilers allowed three power-play goals to the Dallas Stars in the third period before it was six minutes old, never recovered and lost 6-3 to open the Western Conference final rematch.“We have to be better in that department, all of us, to a man,” Oilers penalty-kill mainstay Darnell Nurse said. “Whether it’s a won battle, a clear, a block, whatever play has to be made on the PK, we have to make it and we didn’t do that enough.”Brett Kulak’s second penalty of the game at […]
Assim como Wendel, Lorran, do Flamengo, também não foi negociado com a Rússia por questão ‘geopolítica’; entenda
A questão geopolítica alegada pelo Botafogo para desistir da contratação de Wendel junto ao Zenit, da Rússia, não é novidade no mercado da bola do Brasil. O Flamengo também enfrentou situação semelhante quando tentou vender Lorran ao mesmo clube. Segundo o blog apurou, a negociação também caiu pela falta de um canal bancário aberto disponível. Ou seja, em função da guerra na Ucrânia e as restrições dos Estados Unidos à Rússia, o sistema bancário dos russos ficam bloqueados para operações internacionais, pelas questões políticas. Segundo pessoas que participaram da operação de Lorran, a situação gerou a falta de pagamento exigido pelo Flamengo, o que fez com o que o clube desistisse do acordo em cima da hora.
Hamilton hopeful of being ‘surprised’ amid concern over 2026 F1 cars
Lewis Hamilton has expressed concern over the direction Formula 1 is being taken in by the sport's incoming new regulations, but says he is hopeful of being "surprised" by the 2026 cars.Radical new engine and design regulations are being introduced ahead of next season, with the proportion of power supplied by the electrical part of the engine increasing from 20 to 50 per cent. Discussions are ongoing around lessening that increase amid fears cars could run out of electrical deployment on straights at certain circuits, while terms have already been reached that will allow engine manufacturers facing a performance shortfall the opportunity to catch up.In a rare exclusive interview at last weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Hamilton told Sky Sport Italia: "I don't think it's going in the right direction, personally."But maybe I'll be surprised next year. Maybe we'll arrive […]
Pacers’ Game 1 triumph becomes heartfelt tribute to late Colts owner Jim Irsay
As the Indiana Pacers took the floor at Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they were unknowingly playing under the shadow of a farewell message from one of the most iconic figures in Indiana sports. Jim Irsay, the longtime owner of the Indianapolis Colts, had posted his final tweet on Wednesday evening, offering a message of encouragement to the Pacers ahead of their clash with the New York Knicks."Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!" Irsay wrote. The message, brief yet heartfelt, would turn out to be his final public statement before passing away peacefully in his sleep later that day at the age of 65.The timing was poignant. Within hours, the Pacers delivered one of their most emotional and thrilling playoff performances in recent memory-a 138-135 overtime victory […]
Related
Gotham, Tigres advance to Concacaf Champions Cup Final
Gotham FC is set to clash with Tigres UANL in Saturday’s inaugural final of the Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup.Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and Tigres UANL of Liga Mx Femenil have advanced to the final with emphatic victories over Club América and the Portland Thorns.Gotham topped América 3-1, navigating through windy and rainy conditions Wednesday evening at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, Mexico. Tigres’ two unanswered goals against the Thorns in the first 28 minutes of the game sealed their fate later that night.AdvertisementThe NWSL side started strong, with Brazilian striker Geyse volleying home a corner from Sarah Schupansky in the 21st minute, her second goal for the team since arriving from Manchester United in March. Gotham’s second goal came from a penalty by Midge Purce, who also drew the foul in the box, her first since her […]
Why Yankees’ Jasson Domínguez impressed Aaron Judge before walk-off home run vs. Rangers
NEW YORK — The surprise ice bath was the result of the walk-off home run.The walk-off home run was the result of not just a center-cut slider and Jasson Domínguez’s powerful bat, but more than a month of steady improvements at the plate from the 22-year-old rookie.That was according to star Aaron Judge, who heaped praise on Domínguez after his solo shot in the ninth inning gave the New York Yankees a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers and sent Yankee Stadium into a frenzy.Advertisement“Just continuing to improve on his approach,” Judge said. “The swings he’s taking on pitches in the zone — (when) teams leave pitches in the zone on him, he’s hammering them. That’s the biggest thing: approach. Ironing that out.”The blast was the Yankees’ first walk-off home run since Giancarlo Stanton crushed a walk-off grand slam on […]
Oilers bemoan loss of control in Game 1: ‘We’ve got to be an awful lot more mature’
DALLAS – The Edmonton Oilers were mostly in control for the first two periods of Game 1 on Wednesday and, with a two-goal lead, seemed poised to cruise to their ninth win in their last 10 games.And then a combination of a string of penalties and an inability to kill them torpedoed those prospects.AdvertisementThe Oilers allowed three power-play goals to the Dallas Stars in the third period before it was six minutes old, never recovered and lost 6-3 to open the Western Conference final rematch.“We have to be better in that department, all of us, to a man,” Oilers penalty-kill mainstay Darnell Nurse said. “Whether it’s a won battle, a clear, a block, whatever play has to be made on the PK, we have to make it and we didn’t do that enough.”Brett Kulak’s second penalty of the game at […]
Assim como Wendel, Lorran, do Flamengo, também não foi negociado com a Rússia por questão ‘geopolítica’; entenda
A questão geopolítica alegada pelo Botafogo para desistir da contratação de Wendel junto ao Zenit, da Rússia, não é novidade no mercado da bola do Brasil. O Flamengo também enfrentou situação semelhante quando tentou vender Lorran ao mesmo clube. Segundo o blog apurou, a negociação também caiu pela falta de um canal bancário aberto disponível. Ou seja, em função da guerra na Ucrânia e as restrições dos Estados Unidos à Rússia, o sistema bancário dos russos ficam bloqueados para operações internacionais, pelas questões políticas. Segundo pessoas que participaram da operação de Lorran, a situação gerou a falta de pagamento exigido pelo Flamengo, o que fez com o que o clube desistisse do acordo em cima da hora.
Hamilton hopeful of being ‘surprised’ amid concern over 2026 F1 cars
Lewis Hamilton has expressed concern over the direction Formula 1 is being taken in by the sport's incoming new regulations, but says he is hopeful of being "surprised" by the 2026 cars.Radical new engine and design regulations are being introduced ahead of next season, with the proportion of power supplied by the electrical part of the engine increasing from 20 to 50 per cent. Discussions are ongoing around lessening that increase amid fears cars could run out of electrical deployment on straights at certain circuits, while terms have already been reached that will allow engine manufacturers facing a performance shortfall the opportunity to catch up.In a rare exclusive interview at last weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Hamilton told Sky Sport Italia: "I don't think it's going in the right direction, personally."But maybe I'll be surprised next year. Maybe we'll arrive […]
Pacers’ Game 1 triumph becomes heartfelt tribute to late Colts owner Jim Irsay
As the Indiana Pacers took the floor at Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they were unknowingly playing under the shadow of a farewell message from one of the most iconic figures in Indiana sports. Jim Irsay, the longtime owner of the Indianapolis Colts, had posted his final tweet on Wednesday evening, offering a message of encouragement to the Pacers ahead of their clash with the New York Knicks."Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!" Irsay wrote. The message, brief yet heartfelt, would turn out to be his final public statement before passing away peacefully in his sleep later that day at the age of 65.The timing was poignant. Within hours, the Pacers delivered one of their most emotional and thrilling playoff performances in recent memory-a 138-135 overtime victory […]
Be the first to leave a comment