One of the best moments on Monday night was Shaq finding out live on the air that Ernie Johnson didn’t vote for him for MVP in 2005 and 2006.
Watch Shaq learn on live TV that Ernie Johnson didn’t vote for him for MVP
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Steve Nash won back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 while with the Phoenix Suns. The more important part is who he edged out. In 2005 Shaq lost by just 34 points and finished second. Now, Ernie Johnson’s vote alone wouldn’t have swayed the voting — O’Neal would have needed a lot more people to change their votes — but the reaction was incredible when he found out.
It’s a solid second of pure awkwardness. Like someone arriving to a party you didn’t invite them to. Shaq might be mad at his coworker, but when it comes time to 2006 he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Shaq didn’t even finish in the top 10.
