Shaq Reveals Long-Held Grudge Over Lost MVP Vote
Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal has disclosed a decades-long resentment towards Carmelo Anthony for receiving a single MVP vote in the 2012-2013 season,a vote that denied O’Neal a place in NBA history alongside Stephen Curry. O’Neal, speaking recently, admitted he “hated” Anthony for the dissenting vote that prevented him from achieving unanimous MVP selection – a feat Curry later accomplished.
While Curry ultimately became the first and only player to win the MVP award unanimously in 2015-2016, several other NBA icons have come close. LeBron James, in 2012-2013, received 120 of 121 first-place votes, with Anthony securing the lone remaining vote. This near-unanimity has become a benchmark for dominance, and O’Neal’s revelation highlights the significance of even a single vote in shaping an athlete’s legacy.
The 2012-2013 MVP race saw James lead the Miami Heat to a 66-16 record. Gary Washburn of The boston Globe, the voter who selected Anthony, justified his decision at the time, citing Anthony’s crucial role in carrying the new York Knicks. Washburn explained that Anthony’s individual impact on his team warranted recognition despite the Knicks’ overall record.
O’Neal’s frustration underscores a broader trend of athletes acknowledging the weight of individual accolades. the pursuit of a unanimous award represents not only personal achievement but also peer recognition and historical significance. Paige Bueckers,a recent collage basketball star,also fell short of a unanimous player of the year award,joining O’Neal and James in the ranks of those nearly achieving the elusive unanimous honor.
