The life of an NBA superstar is not easy. Due to the constant pressure from the team and from the millions of fans watching, players undergo a huge amount of stress. This issue was touched upon by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal on the latest episode of his podcast.

Along with the rest of the usual hosts, a certified mental health expert joined the panel of The Big Podcast with Shaq. O’Neal and the others discussed various topics surrounding the mental health of athletes and the factors that affect it.

Interestingly enough, Shaquille O’Neal talked about what irritated him the most during his time in the NBA. It is the word, ‘but’. Shaq asserted that the usage of these words by fans and the media drove him crazy and he would break stuff in his house.

Shaq said, “I always used to hate saying the word ‘but’, like Shaq is one of the greatest Lakers ever but. The reason why he couldn’t win the MVP over Steve Nash, he could’ve, but. So, that would drive me crazy. It reached the point where I would go to my house and break stuff up.” 

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Steve Nash won the MVP award over Shaquille O’Neal by a small margin. Shaq who played for the Miami Heat was clearly heartbroken as he has talked about his loss on multiple occasions.

Did Shaquille O’Neal deserve the MVP over Steve Nash?

Shaq joined the Miami Heat from the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2004-05 season. He instantly made a mark on his new team as he established himself as one of the best players in the league.

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Moreover, he averaged a phenomenal 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists during the season. On the other hand, Steve Nash averaged 15.5 points, 11.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds. 

While many expected Shaq to win, Nash won the MVP over Shaq with a margin of only 34 points! Dirk Nowitzki bagged third place behind Nash and Shaq.

O’Neal said, “People know who the real dominant guy was. But Steve Nash, I don’t want to say it because you might print it and it might cause problems. I don’t believe he beat me out twice.” O’Neal was visibly upset as he narrowly lost out to one of the biggest accolades in basketball despite being in prime contention to win it.

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Do you think Shaquille O’Neal deserved the MVP award over Steve Nash? Let us know in the comments down below.