Green backs Alexander: Do you really think flopping for free throws alone can win back-to-back MVP?

On May 31, Beijing time, Warriors forward Draymond Green, not one to easily commend other NBA players, broke his usual silence to heap praise on Alexander.

Many assume the Thunder star’s standout play stems from flopping for foul calls. Green pushed back, saying it’s unbelievable that people would attribute Alexander’s accomplishments—at his level—solely to tricking referees.

Green said: “The sports media nowadays is terrible, absolutely terrible. Nobody talks real basketball anymore, nobody understands the game. The information flow is too fast—everything is too fast—so we can only focus on things that slow down, like Alexander falling down, Alexander going to the free-throw line again. Everyone’s complaining that Alexander gets too many calls. But before Game 6, he only had five more free throws than Victor Wembanyama for the entire series, yet the endless complaints are all about him shooting too many free throws. I just don’t get it.”

“Shai, I want to say, your greatness has reached a new level,” Green continued. “The fact that sports media specifically hones in on your style of play and criticizes it proves your skill has hit a new peak—that itself is remarkable. Do people really think Alexander is running around the court just to yell for calls and draw fouls?”

“I just can’t understand it. He just won back-to-back regular season MVP—and we all know the NBA is recognized as the world’s top professional basketball league—yet people still criticize him like this. Are they deliberately trying to smear him, reducing all his success to flopping? Do you honestly think the NBA court is that simple—that you can win back-to-back league MVP just by flopping for free throws? Is it necessary to interpret professional basketball in such a shallow way? It’s truly regrettable, even disgusting.”

Green rarely offers praise; on the court, he’s more often clashing with opponents. Perhaps he sees a similar situation in Alexander: the latter has achieved remarkable results but repeatedly faces media criticism.

Green’s argument has some merit, but the external criticism of Alexander isn’t entirely baseless. His overall ability is unquestionable, but his playing style is indeed not very likable. To some, this way of winning isn’t particularly graceful—yet if it were truly easy, no one else would have been able to master it so perfectly.

Alexander has already stated that he doesn’t care about the accusations of flopping. And this unexpected show of support is sure to warm his heart.