Shaquille O’Neal furious, claims Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unfairly overlooked for MVP award

Shaquille O’Neal made headlines in Canada on Wednesday as he passionately argued that Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was snubbed for the NBA MVP award. Despite Nikola Jokic taking home the honor for the third time in his career, Shaq firmly believed that Gilgeous-Alexander deserved the recognition.

“I don’t like to rain on people’s parades, but I’m not happy with this one,” O’Neal expressed. “Congratulations to Joker, you are the best big man in the league, but based on everybody’s criteria, my criteria, stats … No. 1 seed, which team had the better record, I felt Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] deserved it.”

Gilgeous-Alexander had an outstanding season, averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. His stellar performance helped lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to the first seed in the Western Conference with a 57-25 record, a significant improvement from the previous season.

The 25-year-old guard’s consistency and improvement in every statistical category have been remarkable, breaking franchise records and earning praise from fans and analysts alike. Despite falling just short of the MVP title, Gilgeous-Alexander’s future looks bright as he continues to elevate his game and lead his team to success.

As the Thunder advance through the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact on the court and his potential for future success have solidified his position as one of the league’s rising stars. Shaq’s support for the Canadian guard has only added to the excitement surrounding Gilgeous-Alexander’s promising career.