Steve Kerr Frustrated With NBA Rules After SGA’s 15 Free Throws

The Golden State Warriors left Saturday’s 104-97 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder frustrated with more than just the final score. After the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr directed his frustration at the NBA’s rulebook following another whistle-heavy night for Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The reigning NBA MVP led all scorers with 27 points, including 14 makes on 15 free-throw attempts, helping Oklahoma City secure its league-leading 50th win of the season.

Kerr made it clear his criticism was not aimed at Gilgeous-Alexander personally. Instead, he believes the current rules make defending elite scorers increasingly difficult.

“He’s incredibly clever,” Kerr said after the game. “He knows exactly how to draw contact. It’s all within the rules. I don’t have a problem with Shai. I have a problem with the rules.”

For a Warriors team already navigating injuries and offensive inconsistency, the constant trips to the free-throw line added another challenge in trying to slow one of the league’s most efficient scorers.

Kerr: NBA Rules Favor Offensive Players

Kerr expanded on his criticism by pointing to the modern interpretation of offensive contact, particularly how players can use their off arm to create separation. From a coaching perspective, Kerr believes those situations leave defenders with very few legal options.

“We hardly allow the defense to do anything guarding the ball,” Kerr explained. “So if you allow the offensive player to push off with the off-arm to create space, it makes it really tough defensively because you can’t put your arm in.”

He added that once defenders initiate even minor contact, offensive players are quick to turn that moment into a whistle.

“If you put your arm in, everybody around the league will do what Shai does, what James Harden does. They’ll hook your arm and [flop], and it’s all part of the rules,” Kerr said. “More power to the individual players. But as a league, we need to adapt and adjust. The players just take advantage of the rules. They’re smart, and they know what they’re doing.”

The comments reflect a frustration that has quietly followed the Warriors for several seasons. Kerr has previously argued that Stephen Curry does not receive the same whistle as other superstar guards despite facing constant contact.

Free Throw Gap Highlights Warriors’ Challenge

Despite being a multi-time champion and 12-time All-Star, the stats support that Curry has not gotten a favorable whistle throughout his career. For his career, Curry averages exactly four free throw attempts while only having five seasons in his 17-year career where he had five or more free throw attempts per game.

Gilgeous-Alexander on the other hand, has not had a season where he took less than five free throw attempts since his rookie season with the LA Clippers. A stark difference for a young guard who only just won their first championship and been in the league half Curry’s tenure.

Saturday’s game also illustrated a broader statistical gap between Golden State and some of the league’s most aggressive offensive teams.

The Warriors rank near the bottom of the NBA in free-throw attempts, averaging 20.7 per game, the fourth-fewest in the league. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, sits closer to league average at 23.8 attempts per game, with Gilgeous-Alexander accounting for a large portion of those opportunities.

The Thunder star has built a reputation for living at the line. For the fourth consecutive season, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA in made free throws, averaging 8.3 makes on 9.3 attempts per game. His ability to consistently generate those points has been a major factor behind Oklahoma City’s dominance.

Through 53 games this season, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.6 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals, putting him in position to contend for a second straight MVP award.

For the Warriors, however, the challenge is simpler and more immediate. Without Jimmy Butler, who helped boost their free-throw numbers last season, Golden State has struggled to keep pace in the “free points” category. Kerr’s comments suggest the Warriors know exactly where that disadvantage comes from. Whether the league chooses to address it is another question entirely.

Jalon Dixon Jalon Dixon is a multi-platform sports journalist and content creator specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage. He blends writing, podcasting, and video analysis to deliver accessible, in-depth perspectives on basketball and beyond. More about Jalon Dixon