Shai Gilgeous-Alexander On Why He Doesn’t Complain To The Referees: “I Get Plenty Of Foul Calls”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kept it real on why he doesn't bother complaining to referees about missed foul calls.

5 Min Read

Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was asked about officials’ missing fouls committed on him and why he doesn’t complain about it. Shai acknowledged the human nature of referees and observed how often he goes to the line.

Question: “A lot of stars that have usage like you do talk a lot to officials in between possessions. That’s not something I see you do ever. What do you credit that to? Toughness or maturity?”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “I just feel like an official, you can’t be perfect. Every player wants the officials to be perfect. There are missed calls just like we turn over the basketball and make mistakes and I get plenty of foul calls, so I’m good.”

Shai sits among the top players with free throw attempts per game this season, though he doesn’t have the most per game. He does lead the league in total free throws made, though Giannis Antetokounmpo beats him out in attempts in both categories.

Total

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 714 – 475 (FTA – FTM)

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 591 – 517 (FTA – FTM)

3. Luka Doncic – 533 – 420 (FTA – FTM)

4. DeMar DeRozan – 511 – 440 (FTA – FTM),

5. Paolo Banchero – 468 – 333 (FTA – FTM)

Per Game

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 11.2 – 7.4 (FTA – FTM)

2. Luka Doncic – 8.9 – 7.0 (FTA – FTM)

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 8.8 – 7.7 (FTA – FTM)

4. Trae Young – 7.8 – 6.6 (FTA – FTM),  

5. DeMar DeRozan – 7.6 – 6.6 (FTA – FTM)

Giannis Antetokounmpo sits comfortably atop the free throw attempts list this season, with teams often intentionally fouling him because they can’t physically stop him when he’s going to the rim. Sending him to the line is also a preferable alternative to him dunking through contact.

Luka Doncic and Shai are barely separated by 0.1 free throws, so their positioning as No. 2 and No. 3 can change rapidly. Trae Young is unlikely to lose his spot at No. 4, given his season is over, unless DeMar DeRozan increases his free throw rate drastically.


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Could Have Thrown Shots At Luka Doncic

The phrasing of the question seemed pretty pointed at Shai’s draft classmate Luka Doncic. The pair were the two guard on the All-NBA First Team last season and will likely return to it this season. Luka is well-known for arguing with officials, often refusing to run back on defense because he is complaining to officials.

Shai is averaging 30.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists this season, currently leading the MVP race alongside Nikola Jokic. Luka isn’t in direct competition with either due to the Mavericks’ inferior record, but he has arguably the best individual stats of any player this season with 34.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.

This was an opportunity for Shai to stoke the flames of a budding rivalry with Doncic but he focused on himself and gave the referees some credit. Doncic flies off the rails whenever he has a call go against him, but Mavericks fans would live with a tantrum or two given the scale at which he impacts the team.

The battle of best player from the 2018 Draft Class between the two players will heat up in coming seasons, with Shai winning an MVP this season giving him a leg-up over Doncic, who has been an All-NBA First Team lock since 2019-20. 

While the interviewer couldn’t bait Shai into attacking Doncic, it’s fair to say we’ll see these standout guards battle each other for years to come. The Thunder and Mavericks play again this year on the final day of the regular season.  

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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