Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has received major flak for his style of play, drawing fouls and using the slightest contact to his advantage. This foul-baiting was turned into a board game by Underdog Sports, which reportedly received a cease-and-desist letter from SGA’s lawyers.
The Athletic reported on Wednesday that SGA was lawyering up against Underdog Sports, as Fullcourtpass later reshared the news on X (formerly Twitter).
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“Underdog Sports received a cease and desist letter regarding a promotion that makes fun of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s efforts to draw fouls, per @TheAthletic,” Fullcourtpass wrote.
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According to the report, the fantasy sports company received a letter from the law firm ArentFox Schiff LLP on May 22, urging them to stop using the Thunder star’s name and likeness on any of their platforms, apps, or physical goods.
The cease-and-desist claim was reportedly made after Underdog Sports made a version of the board game Operation, in which the alarm was sounded when Gilgeous-Alexander was touched. This was a nod to SGA’s foul-baiting technique, with the game reportedly being dubbed “Unethical Hoops.”
The news of SGA lawyering up against the company and the game quickly gained the attention of fans online, who slammed the guard for failing to take a joke.
Although many were left amused by the guard taking legal action over a joke, a few supported his move while hitting back at Underdog Sports.
Although opinions remained divided over the MVP’s actions, his decision to pursue legal action only added to the ongoing discourse around his style of play, as critics pointed to the move as further acknowledgment of the narrative surrounding him.
What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s cease-and-desist letter stated
The news of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sending a cease-and-desist letter to Underdog Sports piqued the interest of many, as the guard looks to ban the board game mocking his foul-baiting.
While the guard attempted to ban the game, his letter appeared to list further objections against the company, as highlighted by The Athletic on Wednesday. The sports tabloid shared a quote from SGA’s representative, Eric Fishmanin, on the Thunder star’s demands.
“Permanently cease and desist from any and all use of Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander’s NIL in any and all media,” Fishmanin wrote. “Including but not limited to your website (including the Unethical Hoops Website), apps, social media accounts, digital marketing and advertisements.
“Promotional emails, push notifications, affiliate or influencer placements, and any physical goods including but not limited to the board game advertised on the Unethical Hoops Website.”
While Underdog Sports is yet to comment on the letter, their website continues to operate and had the game on display at the time of writing.
Edited by Arian Kashyap
