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By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is arguably the greatest basketball player in the world right now. Fresh off a 2024-25 season that saw him earn both NBA MVP and Finals MVP honors, the All-Star point guard is now in a position to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to another championship.
While there's plenty to love about Gilgeous-Alexander's game, there are many who criticize his style of play. Fair or not, he's earned the reputation as someone who hunts for fouls and relies on free throws to supplement his elite scoring production.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who has a similar affinity for getting to the line, was asked about this criticism of Gilgeous-Alexander before Game 1 of Los Angeles' series against OKC.
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"I know that's a tough topic to talk about because everybody blows it out of proportion," Reaves said at practice on Sunday. "At the end of the day, he wants to win, and he's going to do whatever it takes to win. If it's shoot 20 free throws, so be it. If I shoot 20 free throws, I'd be happy. I don't think there's any bad intentions with trying to get to the line."
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Gilgeous-Alexander ranked third in terms of free-throw attempts per game through the 2025-26 NBA regular season, taking nine per game. He trailed only Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Deni Avdija (9.2) and Reaves' Los Angeles teammate Luka Doncic (10.1).
SGA shot 12.3 free throws per game in the Thunder's first-round playoff sweep over the Phoenix Suns, including 17 attempts in OKC's Game 1 victory.
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Reaves, who suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain in a loss to the Thunder on April 2, returned to the court in Game 5 of the Lakers' first-round series against the Houston Rockets. He took 13 free throw attempts in Game 5, but only one in Los Angeles' closeout victory in Game 6.
Game 1 between the Thunder and Lakers will tip off at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
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