‘Flopper’ – MVP favorite feels wrath of NBA fans as unsavoury chants rain down in $2bn LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome
It was a tense affair in Los Angeles. The LA Clippers were narrowly beaten by the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-101 on Sunday night and fans in the arena couldn’t contain their frustration at one player. Fans in the Clippers’ Intuit Dome were not impressed with Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGetty Not just any player, the favorite to take home the MVP award. In usual fashion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led his team with 26 points as the Thunder extended their winning streak to six games and cemented their position on top of the West.. Kawhi Leonard put up a stellar display with 25 points and 10 rebounds and James Harden added 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop their own five-game winning streak coming to an end. With 22 seconds left and trailing 101-100, the Clippers had multiple chances to take the lead but Leonard’s contested 21-foot three-pointer and some errors, handed the Thunder the win. The loss is even more disappointing for the Clippers with the Thunder were missing several stars on the night. Jalen Williams and Chelt Holmgren, their second- and third-leading scorers respectively, were both out with hip injuries. For the Clippers they’ve now lost all four games against Oklahoma this season and at one point their fans had enough of the blistering Gilgeous-Alexander. In the third quarter with the Thunder five points up, the NBA‘s MVP favourite was fouled by Bogdan Bogdanovic. As the 26-year-old approached the free-throw line, the arena erupted into one chant. “Flopper,” was the word chant being repeated fans in the arena, a sign that fans feel he exaggerates contact to earn a foul. The Clippers hosted the Thunder in their magnificent $1 billion arena Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in a MVP battle with Nikola JokicGetty It’s become a hot topic in the NBA over recent season, with similar claims levelled at several players across the league but SGA’s behavior seemed to strike a chord with fans online. ‘Fans know ball,’ claimed one user on X, adding a crying emoji, while another said: ‘Embiid out, so Shai decided to take his place and flop his way to the MVP….Respect.’ There was some balance, with other fans citing the irony of James Harden – another player targeted by fans for ‘flopping’ – being on the Clippers squad. ‘That it comes from the clippers fanatics having HARDEN on the team is a bit much, isn’t it?,’ said a third fan. SGA has had 606 free throw attempts this season, with Giannis Antetokounmpo second and the pair lead the league by some distance with third placing being Harden who has 507. On the night, Gilgeous-Alexander attempts 11 foul shows with the Thunder drawing 20 attempts in total. NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals The night was ultimately won by the Thunder not by their offense but their defense as they proved again why they have the league’s best defensive rating, something Leonard praised them for. “I would say they didn’t have a lot of guys that you can attack in that starting lineup,” Leonard said. “I guess that does kind of make them the best. All of them have the attitude and want to guard one of the best on the floor, so like I said, it was enjoyable.” Aside from the fouls, Clippers and Thunder put up a thrilling match and served as a great preview of what could be a Western Conference first-round match up.
It was a tense affair in Los Angeles.
The LA Clippers were narrowly beaten by the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-101 on Sunday night and fans in the arena couldn’t contain their frustration at one player.
Not just any player, the favorite to take home the MVP award.
In usual fashion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led his team with 26 points as the Thunder extended their winning streak to six games and cemented their position on top of the West..
Kawhi Leonard put up a stellar display with 25 points and 10 rebounds and James Harden added 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop their own five-game winning streak coming to an end.
With 22 seconds left and trailing 101-100, the Clippers had multiple chances to take the lead but Leonard’s contested 21-foot three-pointer and some errors, handed the Thunder the win.
The loss is even more disappointing for the Clippers with the Thunder were missing several stars on the night.
Jalen Williams and Chelt Holmgren, their second- and third-leading scorers respectively, were both out with hip injuries.
For the Clippers they’ve now lost all four games against Oklahoma this season and at one point their fans had enough of the blistering Gilgeous-Alexander.
In the third quarter with the Thunder five points up, the NBA‘s MVP favourite was fouled by Bogdan Bogdanovic.
As the 26-year-old approached the free-throw line, the arena erupted into one chant.
“Flopper,” was the word chant being repeated fans in the arena, a sign that fans feel he exaggerates contact to earn a foul.
It’s become a hot topic in the NBA over recent season, with similar claims levelled at several players across the league but SGA’s behavior seemed to strike a chord with fans online.
‘Fans know ball,’ claimed one user on X, adding a crying emoji, while another said: ‘Embiid out, so Shai decided to take his place and flop his way to the MVP….Respect.’
There was some balance, with other fans citing the irony of James Harden – another player targeted by fans for ‘flopping’ – being on the Clippers squad.
‘That it comes from the clippers fanatics having HARDEN on the team is a bit much, isn’t it?,’ said a third fan.
SGA has had 606 free throw attempts this season, with Giannis Antetokounmpo second and the pair lead the league by some distance with third placing being Harden who has 507.
On the night, Gilgeous-Alexander attempts 11 foul shows with the Thunder drawing 20 attempts in total.
NBA's Greatest
Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama
Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone
10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus
Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
The night was ultimately won by the Thunder not by their offense but their defense as they proved again why they have the league’s best defensive rating, something Leonard praised them for.
“I would say they didn’t have a lot of guys that you can attack in that starting lineup,” Leonard said.
“I guess that does kind of make them the best. All of them have the attitude and want to guard one of the best on the floor, so like I said, it was enjoyable.”
Aside from the fouls, Clippers and Thunder put up a thrilling match and served as a great preview of what could be a Western Conference first-round match up.
