{"id":663936,"date":"2026-05-25T10:52:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T10:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/663936\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T10:52:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T10:52:11","slug":"sga-might-have-pulled-off-the-worst-flop-in-nba-history-and-im-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/663936\/","title":{"rendered":"SGA Might Have Pulled Off the Worst Flop in NBA History \u2014 and I\u2019m Done"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Two things can be true: <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/6022\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Shai Gilgeous-Alexander&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> is one of the most talented basketball players of his generation.<\/p>\n<p>He can score from every part of the court, is underrated as a facilitator, and is the engine of a team that could be creating the next great <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/sports-nba\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:NBA;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;NBA&quot;}\" class=\"link \">NBA<\/a> dynasty in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/sports-nba-thunder\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Oklahoma City Thunder;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Oklahoma City Thunder&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>He is also one of the most annoying players to watch in basketball history.<\/p>\n<p>The back-to-back MVP had a monumental game on Sunday night in primetime against the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/sports-nba-spurs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:San Antonio Spurs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;San Antonio Spurs&quot;}\" class=\"link \">San Antonio Spurs<\/a>, looking to put a stranglehold on the Western Conference finals and go up 3-1 in the series heading back home to <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/teams\/oklahoma-city\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Oklahoma;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Oklahoma&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oklahoma<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But as he has for most of the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander was\u2026fine. He wasn\u2019t an albatross or a heavy detriment to his team, but if you woke up from a coma after a decade and asked to pick who the back-to-back MVP was on the court, he might be your sixth or seventh answer.<\/p>\n<p>What could have been a night of triumph for SGA and the Thunder turned into a one-sided blowout at the hands of <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/10094\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Victor Wembanyama;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Victor Wembanyama&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Victor Wembanyama<\/a> and the Spurs, turning the Western climax into a best-of-three.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>More news: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\/nba\/victor-wembanyama-is-the-best-basketball-player-in-the-world-sorry-sga-11965536\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Victor Wembanyama Is the Best Basketball Player in the World \u2014 Sorry SGA;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Victor Wembanyama Is the Best Basketball Player in the World \u2014 Sorry SGA&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Victor Wembanyama Is the Best Basketball Player in the World \u2014 Sorry SGA<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS \u2013 MAY 24: &lt;a class=&quot;link &quot; href=&quot;https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/10290\/&quot; data-i13n=&quot;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link&quot; data-ylk=&quot;slk:Stephon Castle;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0&quot; data-yga=&quot;{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Stephon Castle&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}&quot;&gt;Stephon Castle&lt;\/a&gt; #5 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 24, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz\/Getty Images)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"639\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/e47977c07db4f4e4393aacbdba74cb61.jpeg\"\/>SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS \u2013 MAY 24: <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/10290\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Stephon Castle;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Stephon Castle&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Stephon Castle<\/a> #5 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 24, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>More news: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\/nba\/call-lebron-james-cavaliers-its-time-to-blow-it-up-11987574\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Call LeBron James, Cavaliers \u2014 It\u2019s Time to Blow It Up;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Call LeBron James, Cavaliers \u2014 It\u2019s Time to Blow It Up&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Call LeBron James, Cavaliers \u2014 It\u2019s Time to Blow It Up<\/a><\/p>\n<p>And what will we be talking about on Monday as we head into those final three games? SGA\u2019s greatness? No, once again, we will be talking about his flopping and obvious attempts to bait for fouls, as the reigning MVP was caught once again by the television cameras acting like he got shot by a bazooka when no Spurs player touched him on his shot attempt.<\/p>\n<p>While you can argue that he was within his rights not to try to collide with De\u2019Aaron Fox\u2019s planted feet, Gilgeous-Alexander has lost any sort of benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s just how he and the Thunder play the game as a whole. Coaches have spoken out against it. Fans have rallied against it. But they win, and as they walk that tightrope of being extra physical on defense while running headfirst into contact on offense, it\u2019s hard to fault them when it works.<\/p>\n<p>The Thunder might be the best team of their generation and on the verge of building the best string of seasons since <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/4244\/\" data-i13n=\"sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kevin Durant;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kevin Durant&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;anchor_text&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kevin Durant<\/a> was in the Bay Area.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, it doesn\u2019t mean I have to enjoy watching it.<\/p>\n<p>Related Articles<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/subscribe?utm_source=FeedsRelatedArticles&amp;utm_medium=subslink&amp;utm_campaign=News\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Start your unlimited Newsweek trial;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Start your unlimited Newsweek trial&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Start your unlimited Newsweek trial<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Two things can be true: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most talented basketball players of his generation.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":663937,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[171151,5556,3013,355,9600,6402,2116,6407,99,40552,290367,32090,69310],"class_list":["post-663936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-de39aaron-fox","tag-kevin-durant","tag-lebron-james","tag-nba","tag-oklahoma","tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","tag-san-antonio-spurs","tag-shai-gilgeous-alexander","tag-sports","tag-stephon-castle","tag-talented-basketball-players","tag-victor-wembanyama","tag-western-conference-finals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=663936"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/663936\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/663937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=663936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=663936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=663936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}