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There's actually a reason Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flops as much as he does originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A Minnesota Timberwolves fan recently flipped the script on the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander "flop" debate. While many critics accuse the Oklahoma City Thunder star of falling for tricks, this fan pointed directly to body science to explain SGA's frequent crashes to the floor.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 6-foot-6 frame, lean build, and high center of gravity make it difficult for him to absorb heavy contact and maintain balance near the rim. Rather than bracing against physical defenders, he intentionally redirects collisions into controlled falls, strategically minimizing injury risk.
The fan wrote on X that SGA “exaggerates some falls to control how he lands because his center of gravity is so high. It’s literally something he does to avoid injuries.”
That explanation lines up with a basic sports science principle. Sliding or rolling after contact spreads the force across motion rather than forcing joints to absorb a hard vertical impact all at once. Players who brace awkwardly during contact are more prone to ankle rolls, knee twists, wrist injuries, and hyperextension injuries.
The idea is that Gilgeous-Alexander does not always fall because the contact is devastating. Sometimes, he may be choosing the safer landing instead of fighting physics in midair. While the visual frustrates opposing fans, the approach could help protect his ankles, knees, and lower back over a long season.
That does not mean every fall is completely natural or free from exaggeration. NBA players regularly sell contact to influence whistles. But the Timberwolves fan’s explanation adds another layer to a debate that usually stops at accusations of flopping.
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