Draymond Green Defends SGA from 'Foul-Baiting' Critics Ahead of Thunder vs. Spurs Game 7

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green says it's ridiculous to accuse Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of foul baiting when Victor Wembanyama has drawn almost as many free throws during the 2026 Western Conference Finals.

Gilgeous-Alexander has attempted 54 free throws for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the series, while Wembanyama has recorded 50 attempts for the San Antonio Spurs heading into Saturday night's Game 7.

"Going into Game 6, Shai had shot five more free throws on the series than Wemby," Green said around the 2:35 mark of Saturday's episode of the Draymond Green Show. "But the whole complaint is, 'Shai's getting too many foul calls.' I don't understand it.

"'Ah, man, he's foul baiting.' Shai, what I will say is: You've reached a new level of greatness, my man. Congratulations. Your hard work has paid off... you have sports media heads coming out and talking about what they don't like about your greatness."

Green went on to compare Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry, who both led their team to a title in the first year of back-to-back MVP campaigns.

Curry accomplished the feat with the Warriors in 2015 and 2016, while Gilgeous-Alexander followed with the Thunder this spring.

"I've been baffled watching people talk about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander," Green said around the 7:45 mark. "Like he just didn't win back-to-back MVPs... this guy who's been No. 1, hands down over the last two years, we're really going to try to discredit him and act like it's all because he flopped? It's because he drew some fouls?"

Green continued, "I know the work Steph Curry put in. I've seen that for 14 years. And the guy that I've seen do that, win a championship, and then come back, run it back and win MVP, I know the work I saw him put in.

"So I've got an idea of the work Shai puts in. And we're just going to dumb that down to a flop and drawing a foul? Man, stop."

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged nine free throw attempts (third in the NBA) and 7.9 free throws made (first in the NBA) this regular season.

He has upped those numbers in the postseason to 9.8 free throw attempts alongside a league-high 8.8 free throws made per playoff game.

Those high figures are in part due to the amount of time Gilgeous-Alexander spends driving to the basket. He ranked 10th in the NBA and third among guards with 12.4 points in the paint per game this regular season.

Gilgeous-Alexander will likely once more be contributing from the paint and the foul line Saturday as he looks to lead the Thunder to Game 7 victory over Wembanyama and the Spurs.

Whichever team wins after the 8 p.m. ET tip-off in Oklahoma City will get the chance to play the New York Knicks for a title.