At the 2025 ESPYs held at the Dolby Theatre, comedian Shane Gillis attempted to inject humor into the star-studded event by roasting several athletes, including NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His joke targeting Gilgeous-Alexander’s tendency to draw fouls on the court, known as the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander foul-baiting joke, fell flat and was met with uncomfortable silence from the audience, shifting the mood abruptly.
Gillis opened his monologue by poking fun at various stars, but when his attention turned to the Oklahoma City Thunder guard, the reaction grew noticeably muted, revealing the sensitivity and divisiveness surrounding Gilgeous-Alexander’s playing style among fans and observers alike.
Why the Focus on Gilgeous-Alexander’s Free Throw Tactics?
The ESPYs traditionally blend glamour with playful jabs, and as host, Gillis embraced the opportunity to roast prominent sports figures. His joke about Gilgeous-Alexander hit on a well-known aspect of the player’s game: his extraordinary ability to provoke opponents into fouling him, resulting in frequent trips to the free-throw line.
SGA is here. Everybody sitting around him is in foul trouble.
—Shane Gillis, Comedian
This punchline referred to Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive average of 8.8 free throw attempts per game during the prior NBA season, ranking second only to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Critics argue that his knack for drawing fouls borders on exploiting a loophole in the game’s rules, while fans express frustration through chants like “free throw merchant,” notably heard during the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Despite the criticism, Gilgeous-Alexander remains unfazed. When confronted about hecklers, he stated calmly,
I don’t care. I never care,
—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, NBA Player
In a typical comedy setting, such an accurate and pointed joke might have been well-received. Yet on the formal awards show stage, this line barely elicited laughter, instead drawing an awkward quiet that contrasted with the usual lively atmosphere.
Online, viewers noted the weak punchline’s reception. One fan wrote, s**t was weak, while another commented,
I know he thought that was gonna land harder.
—Anonymous Viewer
Challenges Faced by Gillis During His Monologue
The flop of the Gilgeous-Alexander joke was not an isolated incident within Gillis’ monologue. Throughout the set, his attempts at humor targeting individuals from Caitlin Clark and Megan Rapinoe to Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein failed to generate the intended energy. The audience’s response remained subdued, with little enthusiasm detected in the Dolby Theatre.
At times when jokes did not land, Gillis addressed the crowd directly, urging them to lighten up, and confessed on another occasion,
I didn’t write this: Put your hands where my eyes can see is what they say when Deshaun Watson gets a massage. I disagree as well. I swear to god, I didn’t want to tell it.
—Shane Gillis, Comedian
Even these candid moments evoked more reaction than much of his scripted material. Audience members reportedly booed from the mezzanine, and visible expressions of discomfort among athletes suggested a disconnect between the host’s humor and the crowd’s expectations.
What the Event’s Reception Means Going Forward
Despite the events not unfolding as planned for Shane Gillis, his hosting gig at the ESPYs brought focus to the polarizing nature of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s foul-drawing tactics, highlighting how such on-court strategies can provoke both admiration and criticism. The moment served as a rare instance of Gilgeous-Alexander being roasted rather than praised in a high-profile setting.
The overall lukewarm reception of the monologue underscores the challenges of balancing edgy comedy with the sensitivities of a diverse audience, especially at a prestigious event in front of elite athletes and fans. Moving forward, hosts may need to recalibrate their approach to avoid disconnects and ensure that humor supports an event’s celebratory tone without alienating attendees or viewers.