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There’s no denying that Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best players in the NBA today. In fact, the two-time reigning league MVP is well on his way to becoming one of the great players in the history of the league.
That being said, there are valid criticisms of Gilgeous-Alexander’s game. Namely, fans, as well as opposing players and coaches, have been highly critical of his propensity to throw himself to the ground while looking for foul calls.
Although NBA commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t seem to think it’s an issue.
“I would only say that there’s a difference between selling a call, exaggeration, and a true flop, which is where you’re actually fooling the referees,” Silver said during a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. I think sometimes even as I sit in the stands at games, players may be falling down, players may be reacting to a call.”
However, Silver is in the minority when it comes to his viewpoint. Don’t believe us, just ask Houston Rockets guard Dillon Brooks, who recently mocked Gilgeous-Alexander by sharing a custom Operation board game created by Underdog Fantasy.
It’s safe to say that Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t a fan of the game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Files Cease And Desist Over ‘Operation’ Game
The game itself mocks Gilgeous-Alexander by setting off a buzzer for a foul anytime the image of the player is touched. Underdog reportedly created 100 custom copies of the game. But it may soon have to eat the costs instead.
Jason Jones of The Athletic reports that Gilgeous-Alexander’s representation filed a cease and desist letter asking the company to stop using his image for its game or face legal repercussions.
Jones writers that the letter asks Underdog to “permanently cease and desist from any and all use of Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander’s NIL in any and all media, including but not limited to your website (including the Unethical Hoops Website), apps, social media accounts, digital marketing and advertisements, promotional emails, push notifications, affiliate or influencer placements, and any physical goods including but not limited to the board game advertised on the Unethical Hoops Website.”
So what do we think? Does SGA have a fair complaint here, or is he just being overly salty? Let us know in the comments section below.