Foul-baiting is a popular tactic used in basketball, and although it is not illegal in the game, it is often met with controversy, find out more about it and its meaning
The play recently came under the spotlight after Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander used it extensively to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Explained what is the meaning of foul baiting in basketball and NBA rule to limit the move
SGA just tripped over nothing and they called a foul… generational whistle pic.twitter.com/5U6gDASIpu
— Chaz (@ChazNBA) May 21, 2025
Despite putting on a strong performance with 31 points, and leading Oklahoma to a dominant 114-88 victory, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently embroiled in controversy.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accused of blatant Foul-Baiting
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, aka SGA, is currently being accused of blatant foul-baiting by fans and analysts. SGA is currently one of the front-runners for this season’s MVP award and recently made an impressive performance, scoring 31 points in the last win against Minnesota. He also registered nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals in the same game.
Despite this impressive performance, all eyes turned to the free-throw line, where he earned seven attempts in the first quarter alone. Unsurprisingly, the Timberwolves showed visible frustration towards SGA. Anthony Edwards seemingly got hit with a technical foul for tossing the ball at SGA following a whistle. During the second quarter, things escalated even further after Edwards nearly drew another technical for making another contact-heavy play and sending SGA to the floor.
Anthony Edwards threw the ball at SGA
He’s SICK of the foul-baiting 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ZaEvECszZX
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) May 21, 2025
Foul-Baiting in basketball: meaning and origins
Foul-baiting is a tactic in basketball where a player exaggerates or initiates contact to draw fouls and head to the free-throw line. In the past, NBA stars like James Harden and Trae Young have used it as part of their scoring arsenal for years. While the play is seemingly within the rules, it often blurs the line between smart basketball and manipulation. Throughout the years, the NBA has made several attempts to crack down on such “non-basketball moves” used to draw fouls.
In the NBA, “foul baiting” refers to a player’s intentional and sometimes exaggerated actions during a basketball play to induce a foul from an opponent with the goal of drawing a shooting foul and getting free throws. It’s a strategy where a player prioritizes getting a foul called, even if it means sacrificing a potential shot.
Before the 2021-22 season, the NBA announced an interpretive change in the officiating of overt, abrupt or abnormal non-basketball moves by offensive players with the ball in an effort to draw fouls in a bid to limit foul baiting.
However, the foul-baiting move still remains widespread and it will continue with players like SGA using it to their advantage. Foul-baiting has proven quite irritating for fans and frustrating for defenders, and quite rightly so, but it is still part of the game.
Nah man Jalen Brunson just raised the bar for foul baiting. He took Neismith arm and HIT HIMSELF in the FACE 😭😭
SGA you have 24 hours to respond LMFAO pic.twitter.com/csoFRaLSso
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) May 22, 2025