Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s reputation is preceding him at this point.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander was taunted by Indiana Pacers fans in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday. During the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., Gilgeous-Alexander successfully drew a foul on Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard.
The Pacers faithful were not at all pleased about the call and quickly burst out into a deafening one-word chant. They yelled “Flopper!” at Gilgeous-Alexander.
Pacers fans start a “Flopper!” chant after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 12, 2025
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/G3Yad1mq5F
Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly-minted NBA MVP, was not rewarded with free throws for the foul as it took place before he went into his upward shooting motion. He also had a somewhat modest first half overall, putting up 12 points on 5/12 shooting and earning just two total free throw attempts.
But opposing fanbases are thoroughly fed up with Gilgeous-Alexander’s foul-baiting tactics. He drew 8.8 free throw attempts per game during the regular season, and that number has grown even further during the playoffs (where he is shooting 9.3 per game).
Gilgeous-Alexander shot eight free throws during his team’s Game 1 loss to the Pacers and followed that up with 12 free throws in a Game 2 win. That is more than enough for Indiana fans to label him as a “flopper,” and they are far from the only ones as well. During the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the home fans in Minneapolis hit Gilgeous-Alexander with a similar but slightly more creative three-word chant.
