Shaquille O’Neal can still name the reporter that turned back him from being the first unanimous MVP even after all these years. O’Neal talked about how Phil Jackson helped him during his 1999–2000 campaign and how an “idiot” reporter prevented him from winning the first-ever MVP award unanimously. By voting for Allen Iverson that season, CNN reporter Fred Hickman ruined what would have made O’Neal the MVP by a wide margin. O’Neal, who had the strongest statistical season of his career, averaging 29.7 points and 13.6 rebounds per game, was chosen by every other sportswriter and broadcaster. Physically impressive from the start, Shaq was a force to be reckoned with in the league, but not for Hickman in this case.
In the 1999-00 season, O’Neal set career highs in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage while also averaging three blocks per game and shooting a league-best 54.4 percent from the floor. On his route to the first of Los Angeles’ 3 consecutive championships, the Lakers’ big man dominated the paint that season. The Hall of Famer replied to Leahy’s questioning about the identification of the reporter who chose to vote for Allen Iverson instead before she could complete it during an interview on her Fox Sports programme, “Fair Game,” with the Hall of Famer.
Shaquille O’Neal was the most dominant force who was denied the unanimous MVP
Many people consider Shaquille O’Neal to be the most dominant player in NBA history over it’s 75 year course. Over the period of his 19 seasons in the league, he received several awards, including MVP and Rookie of the Year. O’Neal won four NBA championships in addition to three MVP awards in the Finals. After being selected first overall by the Orlando Magic in the 1992 NBA Draft, heavyweight O’Neal made an impression right away. The LSU product spent four seasons with Orlando, playing in the NBA Finals in 1995. With 29.3 points scored per game during that season, he set a league scoring record.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who would go on to flourish his name most prominently, welcomed Shaquille O’Neal in 1996. O’Neal took the Lakers to three consecutive titles from 2000 to 2003 with his co-star Kobe Bryant. O’Neal made his NBA Finals comeback in 2006 and guided the Miami Heat in capturing their first title. His 15 All-Star appearances put him in a tie for fourth place in NBA history in that classification. O’Neal’s number was retired by the Heat and the Lakers, respectively. His 2016 induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and his selection to the NBA 50th and 75th anniversary teams marked the apex of a tremendous career.
After Michael Jordan and the Bulls, the NBA saw the start of a new dynasty, with Phil Jackson serving as its unifying force. With Shaquille O’Neal enjoying a spectacular season and the two-time scoring champion being more driven than ever, the LA Lakers were back at the top of the standings. O’Neal was asked about the reporter who cost him the MVP title on a Fox Sports episode of Fair Game with Kristine Leahy. The Big Diesel quickly responded before Leahy could even complete his question stating: “Fred Idiot Hickman, I hate him. I don’t need to talk to him . There’s nothing to apologize about. Because he destroyed history being an a******.”
So excited to have @SHAQ on the show with me today, tomorrow and Wednesday. We talked about SO much – here’s Shaq discussing being one vote shy from unanimous MVP. Couldn’t even finish my sentence… pic.twitter.com/4ZufnAviC8
— Kristine Leahy (@KristineLeahy) September 23, 2019Instead of Shaquille O’Neal’s name being included under the first unanimous MVP, it was Curry who received the distinction during his 2015–16 season, when he became the first player to reach 50–40–90 on his route to winning the MVP award twice in a row. O’Neal thought his 1999–2000 season was historic, and that in comparison, it didn’t make sense for Curry to be chosen as the league’s first unanimous MVP when he didn’t receive the same award during his prime. In contrast to Hickman, he received a Sports Emmy in 2004 and has worked as a broadcaster for TBS and ESPN throughout his career. Hickman was also a founding co-host of CNN’s Sports Tonight.
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