NEW YORK — It’s no secret that Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a reputation for baiting opposing players into contact to get to the line. Add Knicks coach Mike Brown to the list of opposing coaches who bemoan it.
After New York’s 103-100 loss against the Thunder Wednesday, March 4, Brown expressed his displeasure with officiating during the game, and in particular the crew’s management of Gilgeous-Alexander’s play.
“SGA, he’s a tough cover,” Brown told reporters after the game. “And he does a great job of convincing the referees — probably better than anybody in the league — that he’s getting hit.”
Brown’s criticism, in part, stemmed from a controversial no-call that prompted Brown to be called for his first technical foul since he joined the Knicks in July.
The play came with 2:02 left in the first quarter, when Gilgeous-Alexander cut to the basket and crashed into Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, before gathering his dribble and putting in an uncontested layup.
Brunson appeared to have a clear, established position, but officials did not call any foul — offensive or defensive — on the play. Gilgeous-Alexander, at the time, had already picked up his second foul and the no-call would’ve been his third, possibly prompting him to sit extended minutes on the bench.
Immediately after the play, Brown gestured emphatically and berated the closest official, Brian Forte. Play continued and Brown didn’t relent with his arguing, eventually drawing the technical foul with 1:40 left to play. Brown appeared to make light contact with Forte during the interaction, but he remained in the game.
“You guys saw the play,” Brown said. “SGA had two fouls, and Jalen was there. And he ran him over … I just don’t understand why that wasn’t a no-call. But that should’ve been his third, the bucket shouldn’t have counted, and we should’ve gone the other way with the basketball.
“To see that, knowing that Jalen is standing there, and he’s putting his body on the line, and our guys are fighting their asses off to try to win the ball game — it didn’t sit well with me, obviously.”
The non-call drew a sharp reaction from social media, with actor and comedian Ben Stiller, a notable Knicks fan, leading the charge.
“This is abhorrent,” Stiller wrote in a message posted shortly after the no-call.
Gilgeous-Alexander would convert the technical free throw and finished the game with 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including a perfect 7-of-7 from the line.
Last year’s Most Valuable Player, Gilgeous-Alexander is tied for third this season in free throw attempts per game, with 9.2.
“That early in the game, I trust Coach, just because there’s still so much time to decide the game, so if I need to come out, I’d come out,” Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked about playing with the two early fouls. “Nothing’s worse than having three fouls in the first quarter, so usually, they’ll take me out if I get two quick ones.
“But, yeah, I was able to control my foul count the rest of the game.”
He finished the game with three personal fouls.