Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lives at the free-throw line. He is attempting 9.7 free throws per game, second only to Luka Doncic, and converting 8.6 of them, also second to Luka. The volume is impossible to ignore, and it has become a regular part of how defenses experience him.
That level of foul drawing has sparked debate. Free throws are part of the game, and many stars earn them the hard way. Still, some believe Shai is drifting into James Harden territory, where whistles feel less about contact and more about manipulation.
Dwyane Wade does not see a problem. The Hall of Famer pushed back on the criticism, saying there is nothing wrong with Shai’s approach and even complimented him for being smart.
“The best players, the high IQ players find a way to manipulate the game, right? And it’s really about understanding. His understanding of the game, of body movement, of defenses, he’s smart enough to know how to get the call. Like, you know what I mean? And so I don’t feel like that’s a bad thing.”
