The ongoing NBA Playoffs are placing the on-court referees in a much brighter limelight than what they are usually accustomed to. It was barely a few days ago when some of them became a target of the Lakers’ reported criticism after a few controversial foul calls. Having moved past that incident, the focus recently returned to them during Game 2 between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans.

During the final 11 minutes and 31 seconds of the 3 quarter, a referee proceeded to take to the mics and make an announcement for the viewers and onlookers at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma. According to him, a decision was made to “have a blocking foul on Gilchrist”. The player in question, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, hasn’t played for the NBA since 2020. The referee was referring to OKC point guard and MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander!

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was a member of the Charlotte Hornets for 8 years before he joined the Dallas Mavericks during the then-ongoing 2019-20 NBA season. He played a few regular season games before it was suspended in March (Covid 19). Later, he had the opportunity to appear in 8 playoff games until the Clippers eliminated the Mavs. He transitioned to the Knicks, but the franchise waived him off, bringing his NBA career to an end.

Till now, there have been no reports about any association between Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In fact, the only thing that is common with them is that they have a long-connected surname. Therefore, it’s hard for one to know why the referee would get confused about their names. Neither of the three involved individuals has put out a statement about the incident yet.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stats in Game 2

Along with other star players like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become a major contender for the MVP title this season. Much of it was thanks to the average score of 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists that he delivered during his 75 regular season games. A score that allowed the Oklahoma City Thunder to be a major contender and win enough games to qualify for the playoffs. The player continues displaying his dominance even at this stage, as seen from his recent performances.

The 2x NBA-All Star ended the recent OKC-Pelicans clash by leading the scoring effort for his team. During his 35 minutes on the court, the player had a score of 33 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists. This marks not only his highest postseason score but also the first time since 2020 that he has scored 30 or more points during a playoff game.

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After the Thunder won by a score of 124-92, team center Chet Holmgren proceeded to highlight Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominance. He took his teammate in his arms and stated in front of the cameras, “He’s too humble to say it, but this is the MVP right here. MVP of the league. Imma say it for him cause he won’t say it”.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander becoming one of the finalists for the MVP title, the hype seems to be growing amongst his teammates. Who wouldn’t want a member of their roster to take the ultimate honor home? Simultaneously, the OKC currently leads the playoff series by 2-0, making the player’s odds all the better.