- Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history to win the unanimous MVP in 2016
- Shaquille O’Neal should have won the award in 2000, says Curry
- Shaq missed the honor due to a single vote by a CNN reporter
Stephen Curry created history in 2016 when he won the first unanimous MVP award in NBA history. Curry helped the Golden State Warriors attain the best regular season record in the history of the league as well, at 73-9.
Steph averaged 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game that season. Sure, Curry’s numbers were insane, but even he believes that Shaquille O’Neal should have been the league’s first unanimous MVP in 2000.
“Unanimous MVP, for sure,” Steph said. “I fully understand that I probably shouldn’t have been the first one, I think. The year Shaq won, he was a clear unanimous pick, even though it didn’t work out that way.”
(Starts at 0:30)
Who are the three best shooters in the NBA… excluding yourself? @StephenCurry30
Steph Curry gives his list 👀 pic.twitter.com/rY0AVI0KM7
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) August 7, 2023
O’Neal averaged 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game in the 1999-00 season. Shaq received 120 first points votes for MVP that season out of a possible 121 votes.
Shaq wasn’t unanimous by ONE VOTE?! Bruh… cmon pic.twitter.com/btcWxkahzy
— Broward Stern (@KnowbodysTweets) May 27, 2021
The only person who voted for Allen Iverson over Shaquille O’Neal was CNN reporter Fred Hickman. It was truly a shocking decision by Hickman as Iverson finished in seventh position in the 2000 MVP race.
Hickman responded to Shaq about picking Iverson over him. The CNN reporter also received death threats because of his decision. At the end of the day, it cost O’Neal the honor of being the first unanimous MVP in NBA history.
Shaquille O’Neal Had A Near-Perfect 1999-00 Season
Shaquille O’Neal was 27 years old during the 1999-00 NBA season. He led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 67-15 record as they finished as the first seed in the Western Conference.
O’Neal’s Lakers won the 2000 NBA Championship over the Indiana Pacers in six games. Apart from winning the NBA title and NBA Finals MVP, O’Neal also won the regular season MVP, NBA All-Star game MVP, and NBA Scoring Title.
The Diesel was evidently selected for the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Second Team. Shaquille O’Neal was simply unstoppable in the 1999-00 season, and if he had won the unanimous MVP, it would have been a great feat. Unfortunately, Shaq missed that due to a single vote.
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