WATCH: Jalen Brunson foul baits Lebron James as TNT commentator gushes over it – When will the NBA stop foul-baiting epidemic

Last night’s Lakers-Knicks game should’ve been about the basketball. It should’ve been about two playoff-caliber teams battling it out under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. Instead, it became another chapter in The NBA’s Foul-Baiting Epidemic.

And yes, it is an epidemic.

The NBA has a real problem on its hands, and Jalen Brunson’s latest Academy Award-worthy performance against LeBron James is just another example of how bad it’s gotten.

But instead of calling it out, TNT’s broadcast booth had the audacity to praise it.

Look, we all understand that drawing fouls is part of the game. Selling contact? Smart. Seeking out an easy trip to the line? Expected.

But what Brunson did last night? That’s not drawing a foul. That’s gaming the system.

Jumping into a defender with no real intent to score? That’s garbage. Flailing like you’ve been shot after minimal contact? Embarrassing. Convincing the refs to give you an and-one you didn’t deserve? Borderline criminal.

This isn’t just a Brunson issue, though. Every top player has added this nonsense to their arsenal.

• James Harden perfected it and passed it down like a family heirloom.
• Trae Young turned it into an art form.
• Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid live at the line because of it.
• Even LeBron James—a generational talent who doesn’t need to resort to this—has given in.

It’s bad enough when it happens, but it’s even worse when national broadcasters celebrate it like it’s high-IQ basketball.

TNT commentator gushes over Jalen Brunson as he foul baits Lebron James

*Jalen Brunson foul baits*

TNT Commentator: “He is SO special, the way he can… draw those fouls” 😭💀 pic.twitter.com/YESmY2FkI2

— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) March 7, 2025

As a Sixers Fan, This Hurts in More Ways Than One

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: I am a Sixers fan.

And yes, I’ve cheered for Joel Embiid while he’s spent entire seasons leading the league in free throw attempts. Yes, I defended James Harden when he was flopping his way to 12 free throws a night in Philly. And yes, I loved every second of it when it benefitted my team.

Hypocritical? Absolutely. But at least I can admit it.

That doesn’t mean it’s fun to watch. That doesn’t mean I enjoy seeing Knicks games turn into whistle marathons. That doesn’t mean I like watching Jalen Brunson turn into the basketball version of a professional wrestler selling a clothesline.

I like Villanova Jalen Brunson. I even like NBA Jalen Brunson—except when he’s pulling this nonsense against the Sixers. But when the flopping starts? My patience runs out fast.

Is There a Light at the End of This Tunnel?

The good news? March Madness is coming.

College basketball has its flaws, but at least you don’t see guys turning every drive into a Broadway performance.

The NBA Playoffs are also around the corner, and traditionally, the refs stop rewarding this crap when the games actually matter.

For now, we’re stuck with flop-heavy regular-season basketball where the best players in the world are more concerned with manipulating the game than playing it.

The NBA needs to fix this. Faster whistles, replay reviews, post-game fines—do something. Because right now? This league is becoming borderline unwatchable.

This too shall pass? I hope so. But not soon enough.

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