Narrative about the Oklahoma City Thunder is mostly jealousy disguised

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a flop merchant.

The Thunder team runs schemes designed to attract fouls.

Oklahoma City basketball is unwatchable.

It’s that last statement that has the most validity, only because it’s totally subjective. One can’t possible persuade another that something is watchable if the other is settled on it being unwatchable.

But the foul differential?

Phoenix had eight more team fouls than the Thunder in the first round. In the second, Los Angeles has one more through three games.

What SGA does is drive the ball to the hole without trying to avoid contact. Built with great balance and dexterity, he’s able to withstand the contact.

And he’s about to be a 2-time MVP.

But for those who find this joyful, friendly, good dude Thunder team unlikable, might I suggest it doesn’t really have anything to do with the hoops.

You don’t like Oklahoma.

Or smaller markets.

Or relatively new franchises.

Because the Thunder brand of team basketball is actually gorgeous to watch — and on a club that runs two full teams deep.

Lakers fans, particularly, here’s the part that’s going to hurt the most: SGA’s game is closer to Kobe Bryant’s than you’d like to acknowledge.

And I think it’s awesome that a “small market” organization has this talented, low-key star as its leader for many years to come.

Thunder Up.