Overview

• Doris Burke defended using the 'free-throw merchant' term as a storyline she and her broadcast team prepared before the Western Conference finals.
• She explained the label reflected chants from 19,000 fans in Minnesota and was intended to inform viewers of the in-arena atmosphere.
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander brushed off the criticism by noting fan jeers are part of home-court advantage and that great players learn to handle distractions.
• League statistics show Gilgeous-Alexander ranked second this season with 669 free-throw attempts, behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo.
• During Game 1 of the NBA Finals, ESPN analyst Iman Shumpert said the continued focus on the moniker may have affected Gilgeous-Alexander’s early performance.