Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to fantasy sports company Underdog Sports over a satirical board game that mocks his tendency to flop. The game, titled 'Unethical Hoops', is based on the classic Operation game and features players using tweezers to remove tiny basketballs from holes in an illustration resembling Gilgeous-Alexander. Brushing against the figure triggers a foul buzzer.
Underdog Sports held a contest to give away 100 copies of the game during Game 3 of the Western Conference finals between the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. Although the game does not explicitly name Gilgeous-Alexander, his likeness is used. Attorneys from the firm ArentFox Schiff sent a letter dated May 22 demanding that Underdog cease using his name, image, and likeness in all media, including the game's website, apps, social media, and any physical goods. They also requested that all copies of the game be destroyed.
Gilgeous-Alexander's flopping has been a topic of debate in NBA circles. A video on X showing a montage of him falling after shots has garnered over 17 million views. Yahoo Sports contributor Tom Haberstroh analysed postseason data and found that Gilgeous-Alexander falls more often than his peers, though whether this constitutes flopping, foul-drawing, or injury prevention remains disputed.
When asked about being called a 'flopper', Gilgeous-Alexander said, 'It does nothing. 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.'
