SGA Reacts to ‘Flopper’ Chants From Spurs Fans After Thunder Win WCF Game 3, ‘Doesn’t Fuel Me’
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received “flopper!” chants from San Antonio Spurs fans en route to OKC’s road 123-108 win on Friday in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
Those chants didn’t faze SGA, per his postgame remarks (1:20 mark).
“It does nothing. Doesn’t fuel me, doesn’t discourage me. I’ve been dealing with it for a long time. I don’t really hear it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“I expect that from the opposing team,” Gilgeous-Alexander added. “They’re not going to like me. They shouldn’t. I get it. It is part of the game. They’re doing their part in making the game exciting. Watching sports, playing sports, my whole life — that’s always what it’s been in. Just because it’s me, it’s no different. I expect that from them. I honestly like it. It makes the game more interesting and more fun, more exciting. Whether they’re for or against me.”
Gilgeous-Alexander started hearing the chants after drawing a personal foul committed by Spurs guard Stephon Castle in the middle of the third quarter. He ended going a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line for the evening.
SGA was third in the league in free throw attempts per game this year (9.0). He’s finished second or third in free throw attempts each season since 2022-23 but never first.
He’s certainly received his fair share of commentary and criticism for a penchant for drawing fouls and going to the free throw line, and Spurs fans voiced their opinions loudly on that front Friday.
At any rate, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points and 12 assists in the 15-point win, and OKC now has a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is in San Antonio on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
