The NBA has long dealt with a ‘foul-baiting’ debate. Criticism around controversial playing styles, particularly with Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has grown. As fans and peers alike push back against his ability to draw fouls, one NBA legend is challenging the narrative using stat lines and a comparison to Michael Jordan.

“I don’t understand what foul baiting is,” Hall of Famer Reggie Miller said on the Dan Patrick Show. “We didn’t say this about MJ, and MJ went to the line 10 plus times. James Harden was in that same category, went to the line 10 plus times.”

Miller isn’t wrong. Jordan is the greatest guard scorer of all time, and went to the line upwards of 10 times per game over three years from 1986-89, during which he averaged an astounding 34.9 points per game. Those foul shots were instrumental in his scoring, and Jordan never faced accusations of ‘selling’ his foul calls.

That distinction is clear to Miller, who pointed out that Gilgeous-Alexander is attacking the defense instead of simply manipulating the rulebooks. While he acknowledged that some questionable calls do happen, it’s not enough to completely write off his playing style entirely. That’s where the conversation took a sharp turn.

“Jaylen Brown‘s been calling this out all the time,” Miller told Patrick. “He shot 21 free throws last night [against the Phoenix Suns].”

When Patrick joked that Brown’s learning how to bait from Gilgeous-Alexander, Miller immediately said that players have to learn from their circumstances and adapt. The Indiana Pacers legend highlighted how important it is to take advantage of how referees call the game each night, and that any potential advantage should be taken.

This is directly in contrast to what Brown said of foul-baiting.

Jaylen Brown’s Frustration With “Foul-Baiting” Adds Context to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Debate

Jaylen Brown made his most recent comments about foul baiting after the Celtics’ 102-104 loss to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder a few weeks ago. Back then, he didn’t hold back, making it clear where he stood to reporters after the game.

“I just don’t foul bait,” he said. “I’m not looking to flop or anything like that, but it’s almost like you got to. Cause there’s a couple of plays in the fourth quarter where I felt like I drove strong, went up strong, and I didn’t get the benefit of the doubt. But maybe if I would have flopped, maybe I would have been able to sell those calls.”

He added that he doesn’t consider foul-baiting as “playing basketball,” adding that the NBA world commends players for “playing the game the right way,” but continues rewarding those who manipulate the game in order to take advantage.

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One moment from the game makes it clear he was referring to SGA, when the Thunder guard crashed into Luka Garza, drawing the foul. Broadcast microphones from the site caught Brown shouting “that’s not basketball,” at the officials, drawing a clear parallel to his comments after the game.