“Shaquille O’Neal Was a Clear Unanimous MVP Pick!”: Stephen Curry Gave His Flowers to His 7ft 1″ ‘Superfan’, Picks Accomplishment Over 3-Point Record

Stephen Curry has appeared in several interviews and media conferences this off-season. Partly, a reason for his increased media presence might be to promote his new documentary on Apple TV+. However, fans are getting some exciting insights into Steph’s life beyond basketball and his thoughts about his contemporaries in the league. Recently, Curry answered a few quickfire questions with Complex Sports during his camp. One of the questions for Steph was to choose one achievement between his unanimous MVP and 3-point record.

A visibly tough choice, Steph pondered hard upon the question and chose his unanimous MVP award from 2016. Being relatively modest, the Baby Faced Assassin gave his flowers to the 1999-2000 season MVP Shaquille O’Neal, who, he believes, should have been the first unanimous MVP of the league instead of him.

Stephen Curry became the NBA’s first unanimous MVP in 2016, given his exemplary performance with the Warriors. He also broke the record for 3-pointers in 2021, proving his shooting and offensive prowess. Choosing between such impeccable feats and accolades must definitely have been really tough for Steph to answer.

Stephen Curry gives his flowers to Shaquille O’Neil for unanimous MVP title

Stephen Curry became a legendary player after winning his second straight MVP in 2016. Yes, Steve Nash had also won the MVP title consecutively in a row. However, what makes Steph’s feat more distinguished is how he had swept all 131 first-place votes for the title. The voting panel includes 130 votes from imminent sportswriters and journalists and one from the Kia MVP fan vote. Curry was the first unanimous MVP in the league’s history.

Who are the three best shooters in the NBA… excluding yourself? @StephenCurry30

Steph Curry gives his list 👀 pic.twitter.com/rY0AVI0KM7

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) August 7, 2023

Seven years after winning the league’s first unanimous MVP award, Curry still considers this feat the greatest of his career. This was evident when he picked this accomplishment over his 3-point record in a quickfire quiz with Complex Sports. However, what struck most with the viewers was Curry’s props for the NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.

“I fully understand that I probably shouldn’t have been the first one, I think. The year Shaq won, he was a clear unanimous pick, even though it didn’t work out that way,” said Curry.

Steph Curry fully resonates with Shaq’s sentiments of winning more MVP awards for his performances in the league. The Big Aristotle was arguably the most dominant center in the league. Perhaps, even Curry recognizes this ordeal and probably even sympathizes with Big Diesel for his resentment against Steve Nash winning two MVP titles over him. Likewise, Shaq has always been a ‘super-fan’ of Steph Curry and gave the Warriors guard his props in several of his statements.

Shaq was robbed off the first unanimous MVP title by one reporter

Shaquille O’Neal, under the tutelage of the Zen Master Phil Jackson at the Lakers, was phenomenal during the 1999-2000 season. He had brought the Lakers back to the top and was having a historic season. The Big Diesel, aged 29 then, averaged 29.7 PPG, 13.6 RPG, and 3.0 BPG, with a shooting average of 57.4% from the field. The Lakers recorded a historic 67-15 record in the league, all thanks to the big man’s defensive prowess.

Given all such incredible feats, it would have been credible enough for Shaq to win the league’s first unanimous MVP. However, a reporter Fred Hickman’s votes had messed up Shaq’s dreams of creating history. Years later, Shaq still seemed visibly salty about this ordeal and called Hickman ‘an idiot’ on national television.

Though Shaq’s luck might have been tough in winning league MVPs, he never failed to express his resentment loud in public.