Interestingly, fans show off all the fouls that Alexander of the Thunder was called in the first game of the Western Conference Finals

A Minnesota Timberwolves fan posted all the fouls that Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shay Gilgers-Alexander was called after Game 1.

This year's NBA playoffs are one of the toughest and most intense games in recent years - making Shea Gilgers-Alexander's yellings out of place in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. A Thunder fan sorted out all the fouls that Shay Gilgers-Alexander was called in Game 1 on Reddit, highlighting how many times he was called and how many less important or controversial fouls were.

Shay Gilgers-Alexander was called tonight with all 12 fouls. 7 shots, 4 non-shooting, and 1 conced. This is another foul that was successfully challenged, so the NBA doesn't count it (it's in the video). Western Conference Finals, 2025 NBA playoffs.

The degree of "fouling" is hard to ignore, and the referee's pandering to him seems to break the more severe penalty standards for the rest of the playoffs.

Thunder won the first victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gilgers Alexander's free throws did not determine the outcome of the game. Oklahoma City completely turned the situation in the third quarter, and SGA made only two free throws. However, the referee's penalty for him throughout the game is puzzling.

Timberwolves fouled Shay Gilgers-Alexander

Even if Shay Gilgers-Alexander didn't go to the free throw line, the whistle he drew was incredible. Once, he drove the ball to the basket, losing balance without any physical contact, and the referee still called a foul.

Jarden McDaniels gently pushed him with his arm before Shay Gilgers-Alexander dribbled the ball, but the referee ignored it. The referee didn't blew the whistle until Shea Gilgers-Alexander fell to the ground. The Timberwolves objected to the penalty and were eventually overturned after a review - but this shouldn't be called at all.

On another round, while McDaniels defended, Gilgers Alexander dribbled the ball into the basket, causing a foul despite the small physical contact - certainly not enough to bring him down. He then rushed towards Anthony Edwards, exaggerated his physical contact, and received an extra penalty, again benefiting from a controversial call.

If this happened in the regular season, it might not have had much impact. This kind of yelling is indeed frustrating, but it is not uncommon. The difference is that this year's playoffs physical confrontation is extremely fierce. Even celebrity players rarely get yelled. But in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Gilgers Alexander's penalty was very different from that of other playoff games.

Although Shea Gilgers-Alexander's foul call was not the decisive factor in the first game of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the referee's decision caused serious controversy. In the playoffs this season, characterized by fierce confrontations and limited number of calls from star players, Gilgers Alexander's decision seemed inconsistent. This difference between referees has aroused criticism from fans and analysts, and has cast a shadow on the Thunder's hard-won opening victory in the Western Conference Finals.