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NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect

By Hans Themistode

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson speaks during the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Player of the Year press conference prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson speaks during the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Player of the Year press conference prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /
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Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O’Neal (Photo credit should read DAVID MILLS/AFP via Getty Images) /

NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect: 19. Shaquille O’Neal, 1994-95

From the moment Shaquille O’Neal stepped onto the hardwood, something just wasn’t right. A man that size simply isn’t supposed to be that agile and so imposing. During the 1993-94 season, O’Neal’s numbers were monstrous. He put up 29.3 points and 13.2 rebounds. Yet, he wasn’t an MVP candidate.

The following season, he put up virtually the same numbers, 29.3 points and 11.4 rebounds. Although the numbers were almost mirrored images, he effectively entered the discussion as the best player in the league. The biggest difference between those years was O’Neal’s ability to affect winning on a higher level.

San Antonio anchor and all-time great, David Robinson, battled it out with O’Neal for the league’s most coveted regular-season award. Robinson would take the top spot at the end of the year voting but in no way should he have beaten out O’Neal that year. Robinson had fewer points (27.6 to 29.3), rebounds (10.8 to 11.4) and field goal percentage (53% to 58.3%).

The win totals weren’t far off either as the Spurs only registered five more victories than the Magic. For whatever reason, it was completely one-sided in terms of the vote as Robinson got 73 percent to O’Neal’s 12. It didn’t make any sense. It’s ridiculous voting practices such as these that forced O’Neal to retire with only one MVP to his name.