The $30 million man's defenders

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti defended star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against criticism during an end-of-season press conference on Monday, citing his two-time league MVP record and commitment to playing every night.

Presti spoke for nearly seven minutes straight about how Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't deserve any of the criticism he is given, noting that he does not fit into the stereotypes about NBA players in the modern era .

Breaking down the narrative

Presti opened his defense by addressing the narrative that Gilgeous-Alexander is a flopper or foul-baiter,saying that the post-game press conference has turned into the bully pulpit to create competitive advantage .

He added that the narrative against Gilgeous-Alexander created additional obstacles for the two-time league MVP, saying that he is playing against six people, with five defenders and social media as the sixth defender.

Gilgeous-Alexander's record speaks for itself

Presti then went on to break down some of the things that NBA players are criticized for, including not playing defense, being inaccessible, and solely making three-pointers.

He dispelled the idea that Gilgeous-Alexander could be criticized by any of these things, saying that he is a two-end player who brings the mid-range back to an art form.

Consistency is key

Presti also addressed the narrative of players complaining to referees and the ongoing discussion about players skipping games under the guise of load management.

He pointed to Gilgeous-Alexander's record, saying that he has gotten three technical fouls this year,none for complaining, and that he plays every night, with consistency well documented.

What's still unknown

While Presti's defense of Gilgeous-Alexander is clear, it remains to be seen how the narrative will shift in the coming months and whether the criticism will continue to follow the two-time league MVP.