Despite Ridiculing 2005 MVP, Shaquille O’Neal Credits Steve Nash in a Rare IG Story: “1 FG% Away”

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal shared an Instagram story celebrating an incredible achievement by Steve Nash. This comes as a surprise, considering O’Neal had previously stated he deserved Nash’s 2005 and 2006 MVP awards. O’Neal finished his career with only 1 MVP award. However, speaking to Sports Illustrated, he claimed that he deserved 3.

Regardless, Nash was not only just 1% away from becoming the first ever to have a career of 50-40-90, he did this a total of 4 times in his 18 NBA seasons. Imagine being just 1% shy from entering the record books, not once but four times!

The three stats refer to the field goal percentage of 40, a 3-point percentage of 50, and a free throw percentage of 90.

Shaquille O’Neal credits Steve Nash for a rare shooting achievement

Considered to be one of the best shooters of all time, Nash is one of the few elite players who registered multiple 50-40-90 seasons during his career. Only Kevin Durant and Larry Bird have ever averaged 50-40-90 through an entire regular season.

Nash averaged 50-40-90 for the first time in his career in the 2005-06 season. While he averaged less than 19 points per game that season, he ended up winning the MVP award over Shaquille O’Neal, averaging 20 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.

Apart from better numbers, O’Neal was also the more dominant of the two and missed out on the MVP trophy the following year as well. Considering his chagrin, it is a bit of s surprise for Shaq to post the Instagram story, regardless of how impressive Nash’s achievement is.

If a player isn't in the 50/40/90 club, why is he on this graphic?

5 men in the graphic, but just 2 in the elite 50/40/90 shooters club…

Most elite shooters of a basketball to ever play based on math…

1.Steve Nash
2.Steph Curry
3.Steve Kerr
4.Larry Bird
5.Mark Price

— NBA STATS MATTER (@4Warner_) May 26, 2023

The Phoenix Suns legend missed out on a career 50-40-90 because his overall shooting percentage was 49, at the end of his career. While he missed out on an incredible achievement, Nash is still one of the best shooters the NBA ever saw.

Shaq does not think Steve Nash was a “top dog” like Michael Jordan and himself

While Nash had an incredibly successful career, the Canadian never won the NBA title. He was a 2-time MVP and played with some top players.

This included Dirk Nowitzki, O’Neal himself, Goran Dragic, Amar’e Stoudemire, and even Kobe Bryant, during the twilight of his career. O’Neal claimed in his book Shaq Uncut that the only reason Nash didn’t have a ring was that he was not a top dog.

Congrats @De11eDonne! Welcome to the club. https://t.co/dWRnQ86rrZ

— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) September 9, 2019

Shaq had said that while Jordan and himself had the drive to win games when angry, Nash did not. The most Nash could do was shoot a 3, or dish out 5 straight assists, which he said was never enough:

“If Steve got really mad, he’d come down and shoot a three, or come down and dish out five straight assists, which was cool—team ball—but it wasn’t enough. Face it. He was caught in this loop where he had three great teams that were always in front of him.”