Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on Wednesday won the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Several fans did not like the awkward way Shaq 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 4-time champion also admitted that he believes Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should have won the award over Jokic (video here).
“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 [Shai 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.
Shaq is telling Jokić he thought someone else deserved Most Valuable Player IN THE INTERVIEW with Jokić, who was just named the MVP with 79 votes pic.twitter.com/QxKLCaYixl
— Grace Marlowe (@graceofthecurls) May 8, 2024
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
Me enjoying the Jokic MVP announcement and then Shaq immediately saying he didnt deserve it 5 seconds later pic.twitter.com/mXG5mQRdJK
— The NBA Chicken 🃏🏹 (@NbaChicken) May 8, 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
Some fans sensed that Shaq may have felt a little bitter given that he has just one MVP trophy to Jokic’s three.
I’ve seen a lot of takes about this.
It’s unfortunate that Shaq felt the need to say this, especially directly to Nikola. I think there is some frustration that Jokic now has 3 MVP’s to Shaq’s 1.
Saying Shai wins the advanced stat category over Jokic is negligence https://t.co/a9IELHRLVT
— Trey (@Trey_2715) 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.
