Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s mic-drop take on ‘free-throw merchant’ label

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addressed his free-throw merchant label during media availability, perhaps for the last time of the 2025-26 regular season. Gilgeous-Alexander put a bow on his MVP case by leading the Thunder to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference standings for the third year in a row. Shai is a combined 10-for-12 from the charity stripe across his last three games.

The Thunder went 4-0, and every game was lopsided. Gilgeous-Alexander addressed his free-throw merchant moniker during his postgame media availability.

“All the best scorers get to the free-throw line, and I’m after being the best. It’s that simple,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “So, whatever it takes to be the best is whatever I’m trying to go out there and do. Free throws [are] a part of the game, and if I get fouled, I get fouled. If I don’t get fouled, I try to make the shot, and that’s how you play basketball.”

For naysayers who question Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to help his team win without getting to the free-throw line, the reigning MVP has continued to lead his team to victories, while extending the longest streak of scoring 20+ points in NBA history. SGA has scored 20+ points in 140 games straight.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Thunder’s challenging campaign

All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander saw significant growth in the Thunder throughout the regular season. He looked back on the player he was the first time he led his team to the No. 1 seed in 2023-24, and how far he’s come since then, as Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on his development on a personal level.

“I think I’m a world of a better player,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Not only myself but the team understands what it really takes. I think our experiences have naturally done that for us. We understand how to win and the formula for winning. And we understand that every night doing that is the real key to success. And it’s not all the other razzle dazzle, and the stuff that’s cute with basketball.

“Understanding that getting the job done—whatever it is — every night is going to look different. But getting the job done and how to get it done, I think we built that muscle more than anything.”

With two games left in the regular season, the Thunder improved to 64-16.

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