Steve Kerr Criticizes NBA Rules After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 15 Free Throws

Warriors coach says the league, not the Thunder star, needs to address foul-drawing tactics.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's "incredible" ability to draw fouls, but said he has "a problem with the rules" that allow such tactics. Gilgeous-Alexander shot 14-for-15 from the free-throw line in the Thunder's win over the Warriors, continuing a trend that has drawn criticism from opposing coaches.

Why it matters

Gilgeous-Alexander's high free-throw rate has become a point of contention in the NBA, with coaches arguing the league needs to address rules that enable players to "foul-bait" and draw automatic whistles. Kerr's comments add to the growing debate around how the NBA should officiate such tactics, which some view as undermining the spirit of the game.

The details

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, ranks among the league leaders in free-throw attempts per game this season. His free-throw rate of .465 is one of the highest in the NBA for a high-volume shooter. Kerr said Gilgeous-Alexander is "incredibly clever" at drawing contact, but argued the onus is on the league to "adapt and adjust" the rules to curb such tactics.

  • Gilgeous-Alexander shot 14-for-15 from the free-throw line in the Thunder's 104-97 win over the Warriors on March 8, 2026.
  • The NBA attempted to address foul-baiting concerns before the 2021-22 season by announcing "an interpretive change in the officiating of overt, abrupt or abnormal non-basketball moves by offensive players with the ball in an effort to draw fouls."

The players

Steve Kerr

The head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the reigning NBA MVP.

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Vaughn Alexander

The father of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Chris Finch

The head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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What they’re saying

“He's incredibly clever. He knows exactly how to draw contact. It's all within the rules. I don't have a problem with Shai. I have a problem with the rules.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors (Twitter)

“If you put your arm in, everybody around the league will do what Shai does, what James Harden does. They'll hook your arm, and it's all a part of the rules. More power to all the individual players, but as a league, we need to adapt and adjust. The players, year after year, just take advantage of the rules, and they're smart; they know what they're doing.”

— Steve Kerr, Head Coach, Golden State Warriors (Twitter)

“Really and truly, let's be real, it's a skill, it's an art. If you guys don't want us to be a 'free-throw merchant,' guess what you do? Just change your rules.”

— Vaughn Alexander, Father of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Interview)

“Shai's a great closer. They were throwing bodies at him all night, especially early. But he got his cracks, got fouled, and when he got that look late he knocked it down.”

— Mark Daigneault, Head Coach, Oklahoma City Thunder (Post-game interview)

“It's so frustrating to play this team because they foul a ton. They really do. They foul all the time. And then you can't really touch Shai.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves (Post-game interview)

What’s next

The NBA may consider further rule changes to address foul-drawing tactics, as coaches continue to voice frustration over Gilgeous-Alexander and other players' ability to draw frequent free throws.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing tension in the NBA between players who exploit the rules to their advantage and coaches who want the league to adjust those rules to maintain the integrity of the game. The league faces a challenging balance in addressing these concerns without penalizing the skills and creativity of its star players.