Shaquille O’Neal has frequently criticized Steve Nash, who beat him twice for the MVP of the regular season. He frequently accuses Nash of denying him the MVP trophy, which he richly deserved. When the Big Diesel learned that his TNT co-analyst, Ernie Johnson, had voted for Steve Nash in the MVP contest in 2017, he experienced a moment of betrayal and spoke the words “Et Tu, Brute?”
Shaq was furious when Steve Nash won back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006. While Shaq believed he deserved the award in 2006, he also believed Kobe Bryant should have defeated Nash in the MVP contest. Shaq is still irate and never misses an opportunity to mock the former Brooklyn Nets coach for robbing him of a beautiful winning opportunity.
After learning, Shaquille O’Neal experienced a “Et Tu, Brute?” moment. Steve Nash had received Ernie Johnson’s vote
Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal’s fellow TNT analysts, have grown to be somewhat of a family to him. In 2017, Russell Westbrook won the league’s MVP award, finishing ahead of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Shaq asked Johnson instinctively who he had voted for during his MVP battle against Steve Nash as the Inside cast reviewed Westbrook’s MVP.
“Shaq: Two times Steve Nash beat me out. You voted for Steve Nash?
Ernie Johnson: I-did. I don’t remember exactly who I had voted for but his name started with a N.”
Shaquille O'Neal felt betrayed when he found out Ernie Johnson voted for Steve Nash as MVP over him(2017) pic.twitter.com/9KDCl3IKZG
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Ernie had no idea that Shaq would be his TNT co-analyst at the time. Shaq finished the 2004–05 season with a PER of 27, trailing just Steve Nash. He averaged 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game during that regular season.
While Steve Nash won no MVP awards the following season, Shaq at least had the opportunity to display his fourth NBA championship ring. Nash was narrowly denied a triple trick of regular season MVP awards in the 2006–07 campaign by Dirk Nowitzki.
Shaq is upset with Steve Nash for ignoring him during a therapy session
It appears that Shaq will never get over losing the MVP award to Steve Nash. The Big Aristotle broke down to Ernie Johnson in a staged therapy session on “the couch” during an episode of Open Court. After clearing his thoughts, Shaq said:
“It was this little, good-looking, David Beckham-looking guy, running around, passing the ball, doing this and that. He scored every now and then, but would beat me out in the MVP voting. I’m averaging 28-15, without the free throws! Do you know I’m going to the Finals every year.”
Shaq continued by pointing out the unfairness of Steve Nash’s two MVP victories in comparison to other outstanding athletes. He and Kobe Bryant, who have shared a three-peat with the Lakers, have each only ever earned the MVP award once. Shaq demanded that the MVP voters toss away their cameras for failing to recognize good performances in response to this discrepancy.
