Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose won the MVP for the 2010-2011 NBA season, becoming the youngest player in league history to take home the award. Despite this honor, many questioned whether he deserved to win. The conversation usually hinges on LeBron James or former Magic star Dwight Howard, who recently said he believes he should’ve won it. Shaquille O’Neal sided with the future Hall-of-Fame big man.
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During his prime, Howard was undoubtedly the best center in the NBA, with all due respect to Joakim Noah. No other player came close to winning the Defensive Player of the Year award when he was at his peak, as he won the award three consecutive seasons from 2009 to 2011.
The best season of his career came in the 2010-11 campaign when Howard averaged 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. His name was high on the majority of the voters’ ballots for MVP but came up just a bit short.
Rose’s story captured the hearts of those in and around the NBA. Howard spoke on his MVP snub on The Big Podcast with Shaquille O’Neal. While explaining his side of the story, O’Neal accepted that Howard deserved the award over Rose.
“That’s how they do us,” O’Neal said. “Me and you have been going through the same thing.”
O’Neal understands Howard’s pain better than anyone else. The four-time NBA champion is on record for voicing his frustration toward Steve Nash winning MVP over him in 2005, although Nash has a far better case than Rose ever did. O’Neal finished second in MVP voting following his first season as a member of the Heat.
However, Shaq was a bit disappointed in Howard’s stat line. Although Howard objectively had an amazing season statistically, O’Neal believes he was capable of much more.
“23? Boo,” O’Neal said. “Seven points a quarter. That’s three jump hooks and a free throw.”
O’Neal’s cohost Adam Lefkoe also sided with Howard. He brought up a key advanced metric which plays a huge role in the process for voters today.
“You actually had a higher win share,” Lefkoe said. “Which would be huge.”
In fact, back in 2022, Shaq had questioned Rose’s MVP selection. The only difference is that in that instance is that he felt LeBron James deserved to win that prestigious honor, not Dwight Howard.
“I may be biased, but I’ve seen Mike, Dominique, Magic, Bird, David Robinson, Ewing. They brought something unique. Derrick Rose? Great player, but lay something on me I’m not expecting.”
Interestingly, Shaq and Howard ended their long-standing beef not too long ago. Shaq went on to admit that he has been harsh on Howard when it came to assessing him over the years, so he could have been biased in his opinion.
But only a great player can recognize how great another player is. Shaq acknowledging Howard would be a delight for both players’ fanbases.
In the 2010-11 season, Howard’s win shares were 14.4. Rose, on the other hand, had 13.1. In modern-day NBA, where analytics are such a major aspect, perhaps Howard would win if the votes were recast.
Unfortunately, that is just how things go for players like O’Neal and Howard, according to Shaq. Nonetheless, though the eight-time All-Star went unacknowledged in 2010-2011 MVP selection, he is one of the best players in league history. In September, Howard headlines those who will hear their names called in the induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
