For the entire 2024-25 NBA season, the MVP race has been a two-man show. Forget the dominating Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference, the MVP plays in the West. Pretty much everyone is in agreement that the MVP will either be Nikola Jokic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Recently, LeBron James' name has gained some attention. Averaging an impressive 25 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game this year, Luka Doncic has seemingly given him new life at age 40, and before he went down with a minor injury, he was leading the Lakers up to the second seed in the West.
However, Shaquille O'Neal thinks the MVP debate is less about team success and more about one immeasurable factor.
"I always thought it meant you're the baddest motherf------ in the league," said Shaq on The Big Podcast while insisting that he deserved at least one MVP over Steve Nash in the 2000s, bringing his count to two total awards.
Of course, advanced stats and box scores don't exactly measure Shaq's criteria, but he insists that it should be an individual award and team success shouldn't factor in.
It just so happens that one of his MVP favorites is on the best team in the Western Conference.
"You got people like [Charles Barkely] saying it has to do with a team record. Nope, that ain't got s--- to do with it," O'Neal continued. "MVP is most valuable player. 'Player' is singular, it has nothing to do with the f------ team. Baddest motherf------ in the league: Joker or Shai."
Related: Thunder Land Prized French Star in 2025 NBA Mock Draft
There's certainly a case to be made for both, and it generally starts with how well their team has done with them in the lineup, but if Shaq has an MVP vote, it's safe to say he's picking based on vibes alone.
Check out the Inside the Thunder homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
Related: Jay Williams Says Lakers Should Look to Avoid One Western Conference Threat
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM.