Driftsprint

By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Imagine you are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

You're the MVP of the NBA. You are the reigning champion of the league with your best friends on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

After missing a few weeks with an injury, you're back and getting ready to take on Western Conference rival the Dallas Mavericks.

You're feeling good and getting a nap in before your phone buzzes you awake. People are talking about you and ESPN.

Wait, you're not playing, what's the deal?

Well, on Sunday afternoon, ESPN is catching a firestorm from Thunder fans after one of its premier commentators called out the MVP during a game that didn't involve the Canadian superstar.

In a game between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards was called for an offensive foul after using the extension of his arm to get space before a jump shot.

Burke, looking over the play and then watching as the referees stuck with the foul call after a lengthy review, fired a shot at the reigning champs and their ace player.

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"I'm gonna be honest with you," she said. "Oklahoma City fans are going to start hating on me right now. Feel free. How many times does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander get away with that exact kind of [play]?"

Burke continued her verbal rampage, stating that she sees that kind of push-off play every single night in the NBA, and they never get whistled down.

Although she saw a swell of support online from non-Thunder fans, championing her opinion on the MVP's favorable whistle, it was overwhelmed by upset Oklahoma City fans calling out ESPN and Burke for platforming a negative opinion on one of their faces of the league when he wasn't even playing.

"Doris Burke is such a hater on OKC," one Thunder fan posted on X. "She’s obsessed with us and mentions us in a negative way every chance she gets during nationally called games. Get out of here."

Other social media users also wondered why Burke has taken such a vendetta against the Thunder, as it isn't the first time the ESPN broadcaster has ruffled the feathers of Thunder fans.

Gilgeous-Alexander will have his chance to silence Burke and the critics tonight in his second game back from injury, scoring 36 in his return against the Nuggets on Friday.

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