Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the “flopper” chants: “It’s part of the game”
Flopping or simply elite contact creation? The debate surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to divide fans and analysts. Reggie Miller came to his defense, but the discussion is far from settled
Things couldn’t have started much worse. The Spurs scored the first 15 points of the game, and for a moment it looked like OKC was going to pay a heavy price for the absence of Jalen Williams. But that wasn’t the case.
The Thunder stormed back, took control, and eventually beat San Antonio 123-108 on the road, taking a 2-1 lead in the 2026 Western Conference Finals. A win that says a lot about how deep and difficult this team is to shake.
Realizing his starting lineup was struggling against San Antonio’s aggressiveness, Mark Daigneault quickly turned to his bench. The adjustment proved decisive.
Jared McCain was the first player to provide a spark for Oklahoma City, finishing with 24 points and once again confirming his impact in the playoffs. Alongside him, Alex Caruso and especially Jaylin Williams also shined, with the latter delivering a performance that may have flown slightly under the radar compared to McCain’s but proved equally critical.
Williams finished with 18 points and a remarkable 5-for-6 performance from beyond the arc. Among his biggest plays was an and-one three-pointer that effectively ended any hopes of a Spurs comeback late in the game.
Even on a difficult shooting night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still found a way to leave his mark. The two-time reigning MVP finished with 26 points despite shooting an unimpressive 6-for-17 from the field.
His ability to read San Antonio’s defense and involve his teammates – unlike Victor Wembanyama – proved crucial. SGA also added 12 assists, punishing double-teams and maximizing every opportunity created by Oklahoma City’s offense.
Around him, however, another controversy continues to grow. Spurs fans welcomed him with “flopper” chants, accusing him of exaggerating contact to draw fouls. SGA’s response was direct, both on and off the court:
It doesn’t affect me one way or another. It doesn’t hype me up or bring me down. It’s part of the game. I’ve been dealing with it for a while now, and honestly, I don’t even hear it anymore
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Reggie Miller also defended him before the game, pushing back strongly against the criticism:
People talk a lot about SGA falling after shots. I love everything about his game. You don’t win two straight MVPs and average over 30 points by flopping. Not every play is acting
Reggie Miller
The series remains wide open. Game 4 shifts back to San Antonio on Monday, May 26, where the Thunder will have to deal with one historical variable: role players often see their production drop on the road during the playoffs – especially after nights like the ones McCain and Jaylin Williams just delivered.