Nick Wright just said what a lot of people have been thinking, and Oklahoma City Thunder fans are not happy about it.
The sports media personality went after Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for his frequent flopping, saying he "cartoonishly flails about throwing himself to the ground to get a call" more than any other all-time great player. And folks, this is the conversation the NBA needs to have.
"I am not arguing that Shai only does that," Wright said on his show. "Shai is one of the most prolific drivers to the basket. He does very often get actually fouled and still finish. He's a great player but one of the clubs in his bag that he goes to more often than any other all-time great player is the just cartoonish flailing about throwing his own self to the ground to get a call. And it's f***ing maddening."
Look, SGA is an incredible talent. Nobody's denying that. The guy can score at all three levels, he's one of the best drivers in the league, and he's leading the Thunder to championship contention. But if we're being honest - and I always am - some of that stuff looks ridiculous.
There's a difference between drawing contact and selling a call. There's a difference between getting fouled and throwing yourself to the ground like you got hit by a truck. And Wright is calling out where that line is for SGA.
"Thunder fans can't accept winning a championship gets you the championship and the bragging rights and the belt," Wright continued. "But it does not get you necessarily love and at times it doesn't get you much respect you think you deserve."
He's got a point. You know who Thunder fans feel that way about? Kevin Durant. They don't respect his championships because of how he won them. And 's saying if wins a title while flopping his way to the free-throw line, it might not get him the respect he's looking for.
