Shaq tells Jokic directly: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserved to win MVP / News - Basketnews.com

NBA great Shaquille O'Neal makes his case why Shai Gilgeous-Alxeander should have won MVP honors over Nikola Jokic.

Credit: Getty Images via AFP-Scanpix Credit Getty Images via AFP-Scanpix

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets was announced as the regular season MVP for the third time in four years.

Nikola Jokic

Team:Denver NuggetsPosition:C, PFAge:29Height:208 cmWeight:111 kgBirth place:Sombor, SerbiaProfileNewsStatistics

Jokic took home MVP honors after averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game this season. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnsonas the only players to win three or more MVPs.

However, Shaquille O'Neal, a legendary big man in his own right, believes Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should have won the award.

"I don't like to rain on people's parade, but I'm not happy with this one," Shaq said on TNT.

"Congratulations to the Joker, you're the best big man in the league. But based on everybody's criteria, my criteria [which are] stats, [being a] stat-stuffer, you guys' criteria [which is] number one seed, which team had the better record, I felt Shai deserved it."

Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderCredit Getty Images via AFP-Scanpix

The Hall of Fame big man continued to make his case for SGA, while also acknowledging the success OKC is having this season.

"The fact that he has to start all over next year and try to win it again—I know it's going to be hurtful to him, hopefully he uses this to motivate him to win a championship," Shaq said.

"But I thought—and again no disrespect to the Joker, best big man in the league by far—it could've went this way. One of few players who had 30 points 50 times, stat-stuffer, [had a] great season, his team is number one— nobody expected them to be number one, I thought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was gonna win it by far."

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.1 points (54% FG), 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in the regular season for the Thunder.

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