Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
By Sai Mohan
|
Last updated May 27, 2025 8:10 AM ET
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been labeled a “free-throw merchant” and a “foul artist,” among other things, but the best way to describe the Thunder star is by three simple letters: MVP.
The Timberwolves threw everything but the kitchen sink at SGA — blitzes, traps, box-and-ones — but couldn’t stop him from dominating Monday’s Game 4. The impressive aspect was that he didn’t force anything. After being held to just 14 points in Game 3, he made a concerted effort to be patient, looking for teammates out of double teams and giving up the ball early to avoid being hounded in crowds. But whenever Minnesota’s defense let him off the hook, albeit briefly, SGA got to his desired midrange spots and made them pay.
SGA’s calming presence helped Thunder fend off several Timberwolves runs in hostile territory. He finished just one rebound shy of a 40-point triple-double, placing his team on the brink of the NBA Finals. The Toronto native’s playoff career-high scoring night allowed him to join an exclusive club occupied only by Bulls great Michael Jordan.
SGA now has the most 30-point games (59) by an MVP (regular season + playoffs) since MJ pic.twitter.com/rspgoJktzd
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 27, 2025
Much like Jordan was in his heyday, SGA has become public enemy No. 1 for opposing fan bases in the playoffs. During Monday’s Game 4, he was serenaded with boos and chants of “free-throw merchant” when he got to the charity stripe to attempt 14 foul shots.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander admitted he enjoys being the “villain” that silences crowds with his performances.
“It’s super fun,” he said of being booed. “I don’t know about more fun, but it’s up there with being at home. The whole building’s against you, chanting whatever they’re chanting, screaming whatever they’re screaming, and it’s your job to go out there and play basketball, and shut them up. So, yeah, it’s definitely fun. It definitely adds more to the game.”
SGA got asked about being a “villain.” He’s been booed on a lot of his touches this series.
“It’s fun. It’s up there with being at home. It’s your job to go out there and play basketball and shut them up.” pic.twitter.com/1R2Rnb1JRV
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) May 27, 2025
As Thunder front-office member Royce Young noted, the Minnesota crowd grew quieter with each passing SGA bucket.
SGA and the Thunder can close out the Timberwolves in Wednesday’s Game 5, marking the franchise’s return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.
I will say, I enjoyed as the game went along the boos for SGA got quieter and quieter as he dropped 40-9-10 on them.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) May 27, 2025
Sai Mohan
A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.
More must-reads:
Five takeaways from Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals
NBA stars from the Jordan era you may have forgotten
The ‘NBA MVPs’ quiz
