Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Foos win 4 Grammys, overshadowed by Houston

Shaq says recent MVP awards ‘tainted’

‘I don't know what y'all vote for,' Heat center says of 'last four or five years'

Image: O'NealAP
Heat center Shaquille O'Neal said he doesn't understand what voters look for in MVP voting.

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal caused a firestorm of controversy when, asked about whether Dirk Nowitzki had a good chance to win MVP this season, he said the award was "tainted the last four or five years," according to several media reports.

Reporters asked O'Neal about Nowitzki's MVP chances right after the Mavericks had blown out the Heat last Thursday, the Miami Herald reported.

"I don’t know. I don’t know how y’all get that award," O'Neal said, the Herald reported. "That award’s been kinda tainted the last four or five years, so I don’t know what y'all vote for."

The story picked up momentum when reporters told Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash, the two-time MVP, that O'Neal said the award was tainted the last two years.

Nash didn't fire back, saying only, "I'm sorry he feels that way," the Herald and Arizona Republic reported.

Nash won the past two MVPs. Before that, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett won for the 2003-04 season, and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan won back-to-back MVPs before that.

© 2012 msnbc.com

advertisement
Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

  ProBasketballTalk tweets

  1. Loading the latest posts…

Source: Twitter. For more, follow @basketballtalk.

Video: NBA from NBC Sports
Knicks, Lin still streaking
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and point guard Jeremy Lin discuss the team and Lin's recent success.

Slideshow
Washington Wizards v Charlotte Bobcats
  Get your cheer on
Check out some of the dancers from the NBA.

more photos

  Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman

Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag.

Special feature
Image: LeBron James
Who will be MVP?
Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration).

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Blake Griffin
  NBA All-Star starters
A look at the starting lineups for the East and West teams.

more photos