The trash talk got real Thursday night in Houston, when Kevin Durant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exchanged words after another Thunder beatdown, and the internet thought they knew what was said. Turns out, everyone heard it wrong.
A viral clip showed the two former Thunder stars jawing after OKC’s 111-91 win over the Rockets. Lip readers claimed Shai said something about the “7th seed” — a reference to Houston’s playoff position, and the entire internet ran with it.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Hilarious Self-Own to Kevin Durant Goes Viral
The leaked audio dropped on Friday to flip the entire narrative, though it was simpler and way funnier. Durant opened with a shot at Shai’s free-throw shooting.
“Still 86?” he asked, referencing Shai’s career mark hovering in the mid-to-high 80s. The jab landed clean since Gilgeous-Alexander has been an elite scorer for years, but his FT percentage has always sat below the 90% mark that most MVPs hit consistently.
However, he responded back to KD with a brutal knock, saying, “86 what? F— it, it feels like 76! Sht is a–.” It is surprising to see that the reigning MVP really admitted his own free-throw shooting feels trash.
What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Really Said To Kevin Durant👀:
Durant: “Still 86?” (FT%)
Shai: “86 what? F*ck it, it feels like 76! Sh*t is a**”
There was nothing mentioned about the “7th seed”. However, Shai did go at Castle:
“You ain’t sh*t, n****” pic.twitter.com/2Lq8N3gRgg
— LegendZ (@legendz_prod) January 17, 2026
The numbers tell a different story. Shai is shooting 88.3% from the stripe this season on nearly 10 attempts per game. Last year’s MVP campaign saw him hit 89.8%, the sixth-best in the league. His career average sits at 86.4%, which is pretty much solid, but fans expect 90% or better.
In the process, the “7th seed” rumor caught on because it fit the story people wanted to believe. Houston sits at 23–15, hanging onto a playoff spot. Oklahoma City is 34–7, the best team in the league. It was easy to frame it as the reigning MVP trash-talking his former team.
Fans Roast Shai for Free Throw Reality Check
The leaked audio didn’t stop the jokes. When fans heard what Shai really said, they jumped on it. His slip-up became the main story. Social media turned his honesty into new memes.
No one cared that the “7th seed” myth was wrong. It hit like a truck when the MVP admitted his free throws feel off — even while shooting close to 90%.
One fan wrote, “Castle is in his second season and has the reigning MVP this hype. Lmaoooooooooo. Shai is a clown.”
Another added, “SGA on hate watch till further notice. You can’t disrespect legends of the game like that.”
A third noted, “If you have 2000 FTA then 86% is ass. He’s there enough where he absolutely has to be 90%+.”
The fourth shared, “He dreams of KD’s career.”
A fifth noted, “Nah we still running with 7th seed.”
The sixth claimed, “This n**** so tuff gang.”
SGA finished the game with 20 points, two rebounds, and four assists. KD was also not spectacular in the showdown, putting up 19 points with seven rebounds and three assists. But Othiumndes had got the last laugh.
