Doris Burke’s ESPN Job Questioned by OKC Community After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Criticism On-Air

During last week’s West Finals opener, ESPN announcer Doris Burke stunned the NBA World with her controversial take on Live TV. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attempted his seventh free throw of the night within the first five minutes of the game, Burke said, “There’s a reason NBA Twitter likes to call him the free-throw merchant.”

Although the accusations of being a foul baiter and a free throw merchant have stuck with SGA for several seasons now, bringing it up during a nationally televised game did not sit well with the OKC community. As expected, Doris received a ton of backlash following her statement. However, that seemingly did not change her perspective on the matter, as the ESPN veteran did it again during tonight’s Thunder vs Timberwolves clash.

It happened in the closing minutes of the second quarter. As Shai drove to the basket, he drew a shooting foul on Rudy Gobert. While the MVP headed to the free throw line, Doris analysed the play, “You see Rudy try to contend with him. But his left arm is reaching in there and as soon as Shai feels that and there is contact on the elbow.” Then, she brought back her controversial statement from Game 1, “This is why he is called the free throw merchant.”

In a different play, Doris expressed her dislike for Shai’s scoring tactics, “I don’t know. I don’t love it.” Although SGA was the best scorer in the league this year, averaging 32.7 points, not many agreed with his methods. He averaged nearly nine free throw attempts, making a league high 7.9 per game. But although not everyone agrees with how Shai gets his points, it’s still within the rules. So, OKC fans were left fuming at Doris calling him a ‘free throw merchant’ twice in this series.

Doris Burke accused of “hating” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Richard Jefferson defends the OKC star

Soon after Burke’s statement went viral, OKC fans bombarded her with criticism, even questioning her credibility as an ESPN announcer. Comments like “Saying ‘free throw merchant’ on the broadcast after Shai gets free throws on the clearest foul in the world that everyone gets” and “Doris please shut up lol” began flooding in.

The frustration was so glaring that fans were even considering muting Burke’s voice on their devices. One wrote, “Contemplating muting the game the second Doris Burke opens her mouth” while another said, “Is there an option to mute just Doris Burke the rest of the series? How embarrassing she is for the game.”

Many even accused her of having a bias against Shai, which is why she has constantly brought up the ‘free throw merchant’ tag. “How biased of her. Did not expect this with Doris.” A netizen wrote, while another claimed, “YEAH Doris Burke clearly hates Shai.”

Even Doris’ ESPN colleague, Richard Jefferson, defended Shai following the controversial statement. “Every player in the league can do this. Now he drives more, he does it more… For me, the free throw merchant stuff, the numbers prove that it’s not true. It’s just a frustrating thing.”

Jefferson remarked. Yes, drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line is a tactic every player has the freedom to use. But clearly, Shai has mastered that skill and is now utilizing it to help his team win in the biggest stage.

In today’s game, the ability to generate easy points—particularly at the free throw line—is an underrated yet essential skill for any superstar. While the term foul-baiting often carries a negative connotation, executing it consistently and within the rules is far from illegitimate. In fact, it’s something multiple MVPs have built their offensive engines around—Joel Embiid and James Harden, for instance, both known for their frequent trips to the line, and equally for the criticism that comes with it.

What separates SGA from that conversation isn’t just style—it’s substance. Unlike those two, SGA isn’t drawing fouls as a bailout; he’s incorporating it seamlessly into a consistent offensive rhythm. And more importantly, he’s doing it while maintaining efficiency and elevating his team in the postseason.

His scoring averages have held steady, but it’s his ability to manipulate defenses and capitalize on contact—especially in high-pressure playoff environments—that makes his free throw prowess not just effective, but vital. It’s not gamesmanship—it’s growth. So, maybe other players in the league should adopt it as well to even the odds. Do you agree?