Shaq under fire for MVP comments to Nikola Jokic

Shaquille O'Neal. Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Shaquille O'Neal under fire for controversial MVP comments to Nikola Jokic

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated 5/10/24

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on Wednesday won the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Several fans did not like the awkward way Shaquille O'Neal congratulated Jokic for winning the trophy.

Jokic appeared on TNT’s “Inside The NBA” earlier this week after winning his third MVP in four seasons.

Shaq, one of the panelists on the show, congratulated Jokic for his achievement. But the four-time champion also admitted that he believes Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should have won the award over Jokic.

Shaq tells Nikola Jokic straight up that he thinks SGA deserved MVP over him pic.twitter.com/BsSbkQVspm
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 8, 2024

“You know I love you,” Shaq told Jokic. “You’re the best player in the league. I want to congratulate you. But I want you to hear it from me first. I thought that [Gilgeous-Alexander] should have been the MVP. That’s no disrespect to you. But congratulations."

Shaq is obviously entitled to his opinion. Gilgeous-Alexander also had an MVP-caliber season and finished second in MVP voting behind Jokic.

But fans and media members on X felt like Shaq was raining on Jokic’s parade by sharing his opinion to the Nuggets star during what was supposed to be a celebratory moment.

I like Shaq, but Shaq, cut it out. What Jokic just did has nothing to do with what happened to you 20 years ago. We gotta stop it with the athletes and their whole personal agenda. Shaq just rained on this man’s parade because he finished 2nd. pic.twitter.com/ZV2EXFbrCg

— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) May 10, 2024

Damn Shaq let Jokic enjoy his Trophy with no hate for 5 mins lol https://t.co/BpPD6jHy4U

— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) May 9, 2024

I am stunned how shaq reacted to Jokic. Shocked. Weirdly personal and jealous. Talk about spoiling the moment. I’m sorry Joker had to sit there and hear it. And it was only Shaq. @AltitudeSR

— Darren McKee (@DMacSportsCO) May 9, 2024

Jokic had a dominant regular season with averages of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game on 58.3% shooting across 79 games played. He led the Nuggets to a 57-25 record, which tied Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder for the best mark in the West.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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