The ninth player in NBA history to win the MVP award three times or more, Nikola Jokić, has reason to celebrate. He was just named the KIA MVP for the third time in his career. The Serbian superstar overthrew leading candidates Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to claim the honor. But it would seem like there is one unhappy NBA legend with the proceedings.

Shaquille O’Neal made it quite apparent to his Inside crew that he didn’t believe Jokic deserved to get the MVP this time. “I don’t like to rain on people’s parade, but I’m not happy with this one. …I felt Shai deserved it,” the big man said. He generously dubbed Gilgeous-Alexander the “stat stuffer” owing to his record of 51 games this season with 30 or more points. Kevin Durant previously held the record for the most 30-point games in the OKC Thunder.

Yet Shaq couldn’t help but draw parallels between SGA and himself. “The fact that he has to start all over next year and try to win it again, I know this going to be hurtful for him … because I felt I was robbed two or three times and I played my a** off.” 

O’Neal’s reference to his own dismissal could be him indirectly saying that Shai was indeed robbed of an award he very much deserved. It looked like the ‘Big Diesel’ was much more offended than he let on. So much so that he fought off Charles Barkley and nearly the whole TNT crew. Chuck pointed out that the MVP award never goes to the best player. Rather, it goes to the player with the best regular-season record.

He went as far as to call all the analysts (himself included, surely?) and basketball pundits “idiots” for debating and laying out reasons for choosing one or the other as the best player of the season. That seemed to have done it for Shaq. “Don’t name the Most Valuable Player, then … don’t name it that, then!” the 3x Finals MVP exploded. O’Neal looked like he was fighting for himself as much as he was fighting for SGA.

Ever the voice of reason (nearly always), Ernie Johnson put all the arguments to rest.

Johnson brings the numbers out to calm the Nikola Jokic-SGA fight

One thing everybody agreed on was that these were, at best, subjective. A global panel of broadcasters and sportswriters cast the votes. When people with pointed and loud opinions have the opportunity to choose the NBA MVP, you can imagine the kind of subjective analysis it would generate. As such, Nikola Jokić received 79 first-place votes, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had only 15.

Doncic received four and Giannis Antetokounmpo, one, respectively. Given that each vote carries specific points, the Joker’s total comes to 926. As for Alexander, he had 640. Doncic fared slightly better here, as he finished with 566 total points. Not too far off from SGA. But it’s clear that these esteemed panel members believe in Nikola Jokić and his remarkable season.

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