SGA is even trying to play to the refs in the court of law.
The NBA’s reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has sent a legal warning to a fantasy sports company that made a board game mocking the Oklahoma City guard’s notorious flops.
The Thunder star’s lawyers demanded that Underdog Sports stop using SGA’s name and likeness after it created a game called “Unethical Hoops” based on the kids’ classic Operation — in which a buzzer goes off anytime SGA is touched, the Athletic reported.
Underdog Sports recently held a contest giving away 100 copies of the game during the Western Conference Finals — where the Thunder are one game away from eliminating the San Antonio Spurs and facing the Knicks in the finals.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks promoted the game in the contest advertisements
SGA’s lawyers told the company to “permanently cease and desist from any and all use of Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander’s [name, image and likeness] in any and all media, including but not limited to your website (including the Unethical Hoops Website), apps, social media accounts, digital marketing and advertisements, promotional emails, push notifications, affiliate or influencer placements, and any physical goods including but not limited to the board game advertised on the Unethical Hoops Website.”
All board games must be destroyed, the letter from SGA’s reps, according to lawyers ArentFox Schiff LLP — who may or may not have heard of the Streisand Effect.
The website was still live as of Thursday morning.
SGA been widely mocked during the NBA playoffs for his ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line — with fans accusing him of flopping and questioning his style of play and whether or not it’s “ethical” basketball.
In the last four years, he has attempted 391 more free throws than the next-closest player, according to the Athletic.
In this postseason SGA has made 120 free throws and 114 field goals.
SGA, who won the league’s Most Valuable Player award this year and last year, shrugged off the criticism.
“It does nothing,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after game against the Spurs.
“Doesn’t fuel me, doesn’t discourage me. It’s part of the game. I’ve been dealing with it a long time. I don’t really hear it. I’m focused on what’s going on on the court.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
