The San Antonio Spurs defeated the “villains” of the modern NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in an intense seven-game series in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder have become synonymous in some part with “flopping,” on account of superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s uncanny ability to draw fouls.
This has resulted in many fans and pundits taking exception to the Thunder’s approach to the game, resulting in many people who would otherwise be neutral, celebrating the Spurs’ victory.
On Tuesday, San Antonio had its NBA Finals media day ahead of Game 1 on Wednesday, and curiously, star Spurs guard Stephon Castle shockingly rebuked the sentiment that the Spurs didn’t work to draw whistles themselves.
“It was suggested during the earlier rounds this spring that some of your guys, and you in particular, that doesn’t seem to happen,” a reporter said to Castle. “You absorb the contact, you’re strong, you’re not looking to sell calls, embellish anything. Um, are you leaving some gamesmanship on the table by not doing that, or does this get into that whole ethical hoops stuff in terms of playing it straight?”
Castle’s response was blunt and honest.
“I don’t really know how to answer that. I mean, because I mean, I sell calls too sometimes,” Castle said. “I mean, I can’t lie, but I mean, it’s really just a feel thing, especially in the playoffs. You know, if it’s too egregious, you know, the refs aren’t going to bail you out. You know, they’re going to make the two teams— they’re going to make the better team win. So I think just taking it game by game and not trying to put yourself at a disadvantage.
“I don’t really think it’s about, you know, selling calls or not trying to sell calls to make yourself look, you know, a certain type of way. You know, I think we talk to the refs a lot, especially me in particular, but most of the time they’re right. So I mean, just having a short-term memory. I mean, whether you fall down or not, if you get the call or you don’t get the call, it’s not really something you can change. So I think for us, just playing the game and seeing how the refs calling it.”
It’s hard to fault the players for embellishing calls. It’s not an athlete’s job to ensure the game is called the right way; it is an athlete’s job to win. If the league wants to fix the issues plaguing it, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will need to introduce flopping reforms the same way he did for tanking. Until then, players will continue to rightfully use every trick at their disposal.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.