NBA Playoff Debates Overshadow Epic Series: Wembanyama, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Referee Controversies

The Western Conference Finals series between the OKC Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs has so far lived up to its billing, with thrilling basketball action. However, spectacular on-court performances are unfortunately being overshadowed by off-court distractions and incessant debates.

From Game 1’s double-overtime thriller featuring a dominant Victor Wembanyama, to Game 2 where Isaiah Hartenstein emerged as a ‘Wemby-stopper’ and OKC struck back, and Game 3’s historic bench performance from the Thunder to take the series lead, each game has delivered compelling narratives and dramatic twists. Game 4 saw the Spurs adapt and Wemby hit a half-court shot, while Game 5 had Hartenstein once again neutralizing Wemby, leaving OKC one win away from a consecutive Finals appearance.

Despite the captivating nature of each game, the series is being marred by a pointless discourse fueled by players, fans, and experts alike. Following Game 5’s 114-127 loss, Spurs guard Stephon Castle expressed his frustration: «It’s tough to have to fight through that every time. I just think that given their defense and how physical they play, we don’t have the same luxury of playing as physical on the other side.» This was a clear jab at OKC and the officiating.

San Antonio was notably displeased with the referees after their defeat. During their comeback attempt at the end of the third quarter, the Thunder benefited from several questionable calls. Cason Wallace’s late block on Luke Kornet was not called goaltending, despite appearing to be a late whistle. On the subsequent possession, Wembanyama lost the ball, which bounced off Chet Holmgren’s foot and out of bounds, a clear Spurs possession that was controversially awarded to OKC.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson signaled his intention to challenge the call multiple times, a challenge he likely would have won. However, he did not call a timeout beforehand, a procedural requirement. It’s presumed that everyone involved understood that he should have called a timeout first. In the spirit of sportsmanship, the referees could have allowed the Spurs to take a timeout and review the situation. While technically correct according to the rules, a more lenient approach might have been taken.

Fans Target SGA — Dillon Brooks Promotes Board Game

Off the court, facts, rules, and sportsmanship seem to be taking a backseat. The constant, vocal debate about which team is being more disadvantaged is primarily measured by two indicators: the number of free throws awarded and the volume of social media clips highlighting questionable calls.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is at the center of both. Last year in Minnesota, he faced ‘Free-Throw-Merchant’ chants, and recently in San Antonio, he heard loud ‘Flopper’ chants. While such reactions are typical in playoff settings, things escalate when Dillon Brooks, the self-proclaimed NBA villain, orchestrates a satirical board game called ‘Unethical Hoops.’ In this game, players are warned not to touch SGA, as it triggers a foul. «If you touch him, it’s a foul,» Brooks explained the rules of the dexterity game, inspired by the classic ‘Operation.’ «Shai has made basketball completely a game of foul-baiting – and now you have to defend him in the new board game from Underdog. Don’t get tempted. Get the ball without a whistle.»

While an interesting concept, it’s questionable, yet perhaps typical of today’s NBA, to partner with a betting provider that announced giveaways for every time SGA falls down.

Gilgeous-Alexander Gets Many Free Throws, But for Good Reason

Tom Haberstroh (Yahoo) took an investigative approach to count how often Gilgeous-Alexander actually falls when shooting. A viral video on X with over 20 million views claimed SGA was ‘flopping’ on ‘every single shot attempt.’ Indeed, he falls frequently. After Game 3, the Canadian was statistically the superstar who most often ended up on the floor after his shots in this year’s playoffs. However, it’s not every single time. Out of 224 attempts, he fell 29 times, approximately 17 percent – a figure that suddenly doesn’t seem as high, though still first in the league.

The free throws he draws with his falls are often cited as proof of his ‘Unethical Basketball.’ He ranks second in the playoffs for free throws per game (10.3), while in the regular season, he was only fourth (9.0 FTA) in this category.

The circumstances are often ignored. SGA simply takes a lot of shots. In the regular season, he ranked seventh in field goal attempts per game, and in the playoffs, eleventh. Add to that the third and second most drives, respectively. It seems that players who shoot frequently and drive to the basket often get fouled. This is an observation that Luka Doncic, Jaylen Brown, and Deni Avdija might offer a wry smile to.

NBA Legends Defend Gilgeous-Alexander Against Accusations

Accusing SGA of flopping under current rules doesn’t make sense. He does it because it’s part of the game. While the ‘MVP whistle’ certainly helps him, he still needs to sell potential fouls. A prime example was Game 4. Post-game, a clip went viral again (11 million views) showing De’Aaron Fox seemingly trying his best not to land in his opponent’s landing space after a step-back. He ended up doing so, and even with minimal contact, SGA went down and drew the free throws.

Midway through the second quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander engaged Castle in a one-on-one. Again, the point guard executed a step-back. This time, his defender not only moved his feet but his entire body into the landing zone after the jumper. SGA remained stable, merely stumbling backward slightly and looking irritably at the nearby referee. He didn’t fall, and he didn’t get a whistle.

It’s simply part of signaling to the officials that you’ve been fouled, no matter how unpleasant it looks or how much it disrupts the flow of the game. The rules are as they are.

«You should be madder at the refs and what they’re calling,» NBA legend Reggie Miller recently defended SGA. «He’s not calling the fouls himself.» Warriors coach Steve Kerr also correctly stated during the regular season: «I have no problem with Shai. I have a problem with the rules.» It’s a clear case of: Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Wemby Takes Almost as Many Free Throws as SGA — Spurs Even More Than OKC

Some commentators seem to hate the game itself. On one hand, there are complaints about too many injuries, and on the other, players are expected to endure more contact. The NBA is criticized for being too soft, yet Hartenstein’s hard defense against Wemby was deemed excessive. It’s exhausting.

«You guys at home talking about Victor Wembanyama being hit hard: People, stop! I’ve been hit harder,» NBA legend Charles Barkley tried to calm the debate. Barkley’s conclusion: «People who think this is too physical should just shut up.»

He likely has the same sentiment regarding conspiracy theories that OKC is favored by the referees. Why exactly would the NBA favor OKC? Oklahoma City is one of the smallest markets in the NBA. The Thunder are currently playing against the Spurs, who, with Wemby, have the future face of the league on their roster.

Of course, the Thunder benefited from the referees’ calls in Game 2. Hartenstein’s grab of Castle’s hair was not acceptable and should have been penalized. And yes, the Thunder got lucky with some calls in Game 5, SGA flopped and got 17 free throws.

However, the referees also allow the Spurs’ guards numerous borderline legal actions, the Spurs have had their share of beneficial calls, and SGA shot fewer than ten free throws in three out of five games. On average, he shoots exactly one more free throw per game than Wembanyama. As a team, OKC has shot 132 free throws so far in the series, while the Spurs have attempted 143.

The Sport Should Be the Focus Again

Incidentally, Wemby also benefited from the referees in Game 1 against the Wolves with his block record. Furthermore, he has not always been the epitome of «Ethical Basketball» in the playoffs and has not always been the best representative of the philosophy he so prominently espouses.

After Game 5 against OKC, he even faced accusations that he had instructed his backups, Mason Plumlee and Bismack Byambo, to intentionally injure OKC shooter Jared McCain in the closing moments. This is likely nonsense and unsubstantiated, but Wemby refused to speak to the press after the game, leaving his perspective unknown.

What was clearly visible was his skirmishes with his rival Chet Holmgren and his elbow to Naz Reid’s face in the series against Minnesota. While he had been fouled multiple times before that, it’s part of the context that is so often lost.

He was rightly ejected, and that was the end of it for everyone involved – the Spurs, the Wolves, and the NBA. It ultimately became a minor footnote in a great series. It’s a shame that this cannot be said for all the controversial topics in this series.

NBA: Schedule for the OKC vs. Spurs Series

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