- Attorneys representing Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have issued a cease-and-desist letter to Underdog Sports, a fantasy sports company, over a satirical board game.
- The game, titled "Unethical Hoops”, is a parody of the classic game Operation, where players use tweezers to remove tiny basketballs from an illustration resembling Gilgeous-Alexander without touching him, mocking his tendency to "flop" during NBA games.
- "Flopping" refers to players exaggerating illegal contact to draw fouls, a behavior Gilgeous-Alexander has been frequently accused of, with statistical analysis indicating he falls more often than his peers.
- The cease-and-desist letter, dated May 22, demands that Underdog Sports immediately stop using Gilgeous-Alexander's name, image, and likeness across all media, including their website, apps, social media, and the physical board game.
- Lawyers also requested the destruction of all existing copies of the "Unethical Hoops" game, although Gilgeous-Alexander has publicly stated that the criticism regarding his flopping does not affect him.
IN FULL
