We have reached the absolute climax of the historic 80th NBA season. It has been a truly spectacular year, defined by shattered records on both the individual and team levels, and it is all coming down to a highly anticipated Finals matchup between the New York Knicks and the winner of the WCF battle between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs .
The reigning champions currently hold a 3-2 series lead as the battle shifts back to Texas. But after a fantastic double-overtime thriller in Game 1 that saw Mitch Johnson's squad take the victory, prompting everyone to call it "the Finals before the Finals", the narrative has abruptly flipped.
Media headlines are now completely dominated by the favorable whistle OKC seems to enjoy, specifically franchise cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander . SGA has been mercilessly showered with "flopper" chants by opposing crowds in every single road arena this postseason, and Nick Wright believes this brand of basketball is a disastrous look for the sport.
"There needs to be public embarrassment associated with it," Wright pointed out on "First Things First". "And it is the, if guys knew that for a true, not selling a call, but true acting, true like, I was not touched and I fall over, that I can be suspended a game for that. It is. And that might seem a little too harsh. You have to get so many. Yes, and in real time, the other coach can challenge, you have a flop challenge, separate, separate group of challenges."
"We say he flopped. If it is, it goes on your record. We have stats of it. You can, people will say, 'Oh my God, this guy leads the league in flops," he added. "Guys have, it's the reason they don't shoot underhanded free throws, KW, because guys are prideful. They don't wanna be made fun of. This is awful. And if they win again, everyone will feel like they have to do it. In other words, I think America needs the Knicks to win the title. This is to save basketball."
The debate surrounding the back-to-back MVP and his staggering free-throw volume has raged practically all season long. Statistically, the Canadian guard finished just third in free-throw attempts during the regular season, and he currently ranks second in the playoffs, averaging 9.4 trips to the charity stripe per contest.
But that whistle comes on top of the fact that the man just wrapped up a regular season shooting a scorching 55.3 percent from the field while averaging 31.1 points per game. He led the NBA in total field goals made, topped the charts in clutch scoring and finished in the top 10 in both paint and mid-range points.
And yes, like every other legendary player in the history of the game, he leverages his superstar status to draw a few extra whistles, especially in a grueling series against the Spurs, where he has run headfirst into an elite defense anchored by Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama .
None of this should diminish his basketball greatness. However, a jarring stat recently went public: SGA has hit the hardwood a staggering 46 times after a shot during these WCF, resulting in 23 foul calls in his favor — leading the postseason in both categories.
This polarizing debate will undoubtedly rage on as long as the Thunder sit at the top of the mountain. Unfortunately, it has completely overshadowed the historic tear the Knicks are currently on. The Knicks are riding an 11-game winning streak while weaponizing the most potent offense in playoff history , broadcasting a mind-boggling 124.5 offensive rating per 100 possessions.
They also boast the postseason's stingiest defense, suffocating opponents to just 104.4 points per 100 possessions. To make their dominance even more terrifying, they lead the playoffs in scoring, field goal percentage, three-point percentage and total assists, playing a beautifully selfless brand of basketball along the way.
With that said, it's not like the whistle hasn't favored the Knicks either. New York actually sits just ahead of Oklahoma in total playoff free-throw attempts, a clear indicator that they play a highly physical, bruising brand of basketball that naturally forces officials to blow the whistle.
Ultimately, this is a basketball debate that will likely never find a consensus. That is simply the tax you pay when you are at the absolute top of the league. If the Knicks go on to capture their first championship since 1973, you can bet the broader NBA public will quickly find something to nitpick about them, too.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
