Legal Action from SGA Against Fantasy Sports Company
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the current MVP of the NBA, is taking a stand against a fantasy sports company, Underdog Sports, which has developed a board game poking fun at him due to a notorious mistake. His legal team has requested that the company cease all usage of his name and likeness in relation to their game titled “Ansical Hoops,” which is a take on the classic game “Operation.” In this version, touching Gilgeous-Alexander triggers a buzzer.
Recently, Underdog Sports held a contest offering 100 game tickets during the Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder need to beat the San Antonio Spurs in one final game to advance to face the Knicks. Dillon Brooks from the Phoenix Suns has been promoting the game in an ad for the contest.
In a letter sent from SGA’s lawyers, they ordered the company to “permanently cease and desist” using any of Gilgeous-Alexander’s copyrighted material. This includes his name, likeness, and image across all platforms—whether it’s on social media, websites, or even physical products like board games associated with the site.
Moreover, the letter demands that all copies of the game be destroyed. It’s interesting how something like this, reminiscent of the Streisand effect, only brings more attention to the situation.
As of Thursday morning, the game was still available on the Underdog Sports website. Throughout this NBA playoff season, SGA has faced considerable backlash for his ability to draw fouls and reach the free-throw line, with fans labeling his style of play as questionable from an ethical standpoint.
Statistics show that in the last four years, he has taken 391 more free throws than the next closest player—a significant margin. This postseason alone, he’s made 120 free throws against 114 field goals.
Despite the criticism, Gilgeous-Alexander has maintained a nonchalant attitude. “It doesn’t help anything,” he remarked following a game against the Spurs. “I don’t let it bother me. I’ve dealt with it for a long time and focus on the game.” His attitude seems resilient, despite the noise from critics.
