Knicks Coach Calls Out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
New York Knicks coach Mike Brown had a bit of a backhanded compliment for reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday. The Knicks fell just short to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a crushing loss in a potential NBA Finals preview. However, Brown wasn't too happy with the officiating, especially in a tight loss.
Mike Brown calls out refs over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander treatment
Mike Brown and the New York Knicks endured a close, three-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. There was one crucial play that Brown feels went the wrong way and cost his team, and it ultimately came down to a referee call.
Late in the first quarter, Brown received his first technical for arguing a call as the Knicks coach. With less than two minutes left, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to knock Jalen Brunson over, an offensive foul, and make a wide-open layup as a result.
That would've been his third foul in the first quarter. He likely would've had to sit more and play more lax to avoid fouling out later. He would go on to pick up one more foul, but it definitely would've changed things early on.
"SGA, he's a tough cover, and he does a great job of convincing the referees -- probably better than anybody in the league -- that he's getting hit," Brown said after the game. He is, in nicer words, claiming that Gilgeous-Alexander embellishes a little bit and that the refs believe him.
The reigning league MVP is second to Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic in free-throw attempts per game at 9.2. Gilgeous-Alexander, however, leads the NBA in total free throws made per game for a third straight season.
Mike Brown expresses frustration
Brown was not happy with how things went on that pivotal play. "Jalen was there, and he ran them over. It was like the call they made on OG [Anunoby]. I don't know, I don't understand why that was a no-call," he argued.
The coach said it would've been his third foul and it would've wiped a bucket off the board. In a three-point loss, that matters, especially because the Knicks had to attempt (and missed) two threes in the final seconds instead of being able to take the lead with any made basket.
"Jalen is standing there, putting his body on the line and our guys are fighting their asses off to win the ball game, and it just didn't sit well with me," Brown concluded.
"I'm going to have his back every single night. He has ours," Brunson said about his coach getting a technical foul in defense of the guard. "Regardless what he does or techs he gets, I'm going to have his back."
Thunder and refs
This is not the first time the Thunder and the referees have been called out. Nikola Jokic, after an egregious foul by Lu Dort, got into it with several Thunder players in a major scuffle. Dort was ejected for the flagrant two foul.
"I think his frustration is sometimes because the game's officiated differently out on the floor than it is near the basket, and I think he was reacting to what was being done to him," Nuggets coach David Adelman said about Jokic's reaction, seemingly echoing the complaints about the officiating the Thunder receive.
Fans have also complained about how the Thunder are refereed, many believing they get favorable whistles on offense while refs let them play physically on defense. They are now under a bit of a microscope with these high-profile incidents.
Of course, being under a microscope hasn't affected the Thunder much. Even as the defending champions, they've been really great again this year. The Nuggets and Thunder will probably meet again in the playoffs. The Knicks might be waiting on the other side.
