It’s official. For a third time in his career, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has been named the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player. It was a tight race between the now-three-time MVP and the other two finalists, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, who finished second and third in the final voting, respectively.
The NBA on TNT crew got first dibs at interviewing Jokic shortly after the official announcement, and apparently, it was an opportunity for legendary big man Shaquille O’Neal to tell Jokic to his face that he felt the Nuggets star should not have won the trophy.
Denver Nuggets News: Shaq Takes Issue of Nikola Jokic’s MVP Win
Shaq is a straight-shooter and you can always count on the Hall of Famer to tell it as it is. This is exactly why the four-time NBA champion made his opinion about Gilgeous-Alexander being more deserving of the MVP title over Jokic abundantly clear:
"I don't like to rain on people's parade, but I'm not happy with this one. …I felt Shai deserved it."@SHAQ reacts to Jokic winning MVP pic.twitter.com/JwtiPOsFyu
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 8, 2024
You have to say, the man has a point.
Nikola Jokic Claps Back at Shaq
Not only is Shaq an honest fellow, but he also has no fear when it comes to telling people the ugly truth. This is exactly what went down on Wednesday night as O’Neal told Jokic to his face that he believes the MVP title should have gone in a different direction.
Jokic quickly clapped back at Shaq by saying that “it’s fine” because “it’s his opinion.”
Shaquille O'Neal tells his "vice president of the Big Man Alliance" Nikola Jokic that he did not think The Joker should win his 3rd MVP this year pic.twitter.com/f5jAciL5Th
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 8, 2024
Jokic immediately said that he was joking, which prompted a light-hearted moment between himself and O’Neal. To be fair to Shaq, he also made it clear that he meant no disrespect to the Nuggets superstar, and that he just tells it as he sees it.
Respect.
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