“I Don’t Have a Problem With Shai”: Steve Kerr Questions NBA Rules
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr voiced frustration with current NBA officiating rules following a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. While acknowledging the brilliance of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kerr argued that the league’s rules make it extremely difficult for defenders to guard elite scorers who have mastered drawing fouls. His comments have reignited the ongoing conversation about how modern NBA offenses exploit contact rules to generate free throws.
- Krishna Sagar
- 4 min read
Few debates in basketball spark as much emotion as NBA officiating.Fans, players, and coaches have long argued about how the league’s rules favor certain styles of play. As offensive players continue to evolve and find new ways to manipulate defensive contact, the conversation has only intensified.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has never been one to stay silent on issues he believes affect the game. After the Warriors suffered a 104–97 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kerr once again spoke candidly about what he sees as a growing imbalance between offense and defense.
His comments came after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered another efficient scoring night, largely fueled by frequent trips to the free throw line.
Kerr made it clear that his frustration was not directed at the Thunder star himself. Instead, he believes the issue lies within the league’s current rule structure.
1. Kerr Praises SGA While Criticizing the System
Gilgeous-Alexander finished the game with 27 points and spent much of the night at the free throw line. The MVP guard converted 14 of his 15 attempts, repeatedly drawing contact against the Warriors defense.
After the game, Kerr acknowledged the skill involved in creating those opportunities. “Well, he’s incredibly clever and he knows exactly how to draw contact, and it’s all within the rules,” Kerr said.
The Warriors coach then clarified his stance. “I don’t have a problem with Shai. I have a problem with the rules.”Kerr believes the current interpretation of offensive contact makes defending elite scorers far more difficult than it should be.
“I just think that we as a league allow too much off arm,” Kerr explained. “We hardly allow the defense to do anything guarding the ball.”
2. Offensive Players Exploiting the Rules
According to Kerr, the problem has developed gradually as players continue finding ways to use the rulebook to their advantage. “If you allow the offensive player to push off with the off arm to create space, it makes it really tough defensively,” he said.
Kerr also referenced another player who has famously mastered drawing fouls. “If you put your arm in, everybody around the league will do what Shai does, what James Harden does,” Kerr said. “They’ll hook your arm and flail their arms, and it’s all part of the rules.”
Kerr stressed that players cannot be blamed for using the rules to gain an advantage. “They’re smart and they know what they’re doing,” he said. “More power to all the individual players.”
Still, Kerr believes the league must eventually respond. “As a league we need to adapt and adjust.”
3. SGA’s Free Throw Dominance
Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance against Golden State reflects a larger trend.
For the fourth straight season, the Thunder guard leads the NBA in made free throws. He averages 8.3 made free throws per game while attempting 9.3 per contest.
Those numbers have made him one of the most difficult players in the league to defend. Frequent trips to the line have also fueled frustration among opposing fan bases, who often view the style as exploiting officiating tendencies rather than purely beating defenders.
Despite the criticism, the league has made few changes to discourage that approach.
4. Warriors’ Free Throw Disadvantage
Golden State’s frustration with the issue is partly tied to its own struggles at the free throw line. The Warriors consistently rank near the bottom of the league in free throw attempts. Their offensive system emphasizes ball movement and perimeter shooting rather than attacking defenders to draw contact.
At one point, the team attempted to address the issue by acquiring Jimmy Butler during the 2024–25 season. Butler’s aggressive scoring style helped boost the team’s free throw numbers. However, Butler’s season ending injury removed that advantage from the lineup.
Without him, Golden State now averages just 20.7 free throw attempts per game, the fourth lowest mark in the league. The discussion around foul drawing tactics has existed in the NBA for years, and it shows no signs of disappearing.
Players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have simply become extremely efficient at navigating the rulebook. Their ability to manipulate contact often becomes the difference between winning and losing games. For Steve Kerr, the responsibility lies with the league rather than the players. Athletes will always look for competitive edges. If the rules reward certain tactics, players will naturally use them.