Shaquille O’Neal of the Orlando Magic was named the Rookie of the 12 months in 1992-93. He put collectively a ridiculous first season, enjoying in 81 video games and scoring 23.4 factors per sport. Shaquille additionally grabbed 13.9 rebounds and blocked 3.5 photographs per sport. He performed within the All-Star sport that season.
When O’Neal received the award, he made an unbelievable remark that confirmed he was going to be a nasty man on the courtroom for his complete profession:
“After I retire & have youngsters I can inform my son, ‘I used to be dangerous.'”
Shaquille O’Neal accolades
Not solely did Shaquille O’Neal put collectively an unbelievable rookie season, however there is a good argument to be made that he put collectively a prime 10 profession in NBA historical past. O’Neal averaged 23.7 factors whereas capturing 58.2%. O’Neal averaged 2.3 bpg and 10.9 rpg as properly.
The accolades run lengthy for O’Neal.
He was additionally the 1999-2000 MVP, a 15-time All-Star, a three-time All-Star Recreation MVP, a three-time Finals MVP Award winner, two-time scoring champion and 14-time All-NBA choice. O’Neal was additionally named an All-Defensive member thrice.
What he did on each side of the courtroom warranted all of those awards as he was merely among the best that the league has ever seen.
Within the season that Shaquille O’Neal was named the MVP, most, together with himself, believed that he deserved the award. Nevertheless, there was somebody who did not. He made positive to let the reporter know that he made a mistake by not voting for him, as O’Neal may’ve been a unanimous MVP.
“Fred Fool Hickman,” O’Neal recalled in Monday’s episode of Fox Sports activities’ “Truthful Recreation” with Kristine Leahy. “I hate him. I need not speak to him. There’s nothing to apologize about as a result of he destroyed historical past being a (expletive).
“Come on now. There wasn’t anyone doing near what I used to be doing (in 1999-2000). (Hickman) tousled historical past. … Then, a few years in the past you are going to give Steph Curry unanimous (MVP). I like Steph. He is my man. However come on.”
Regardless of not getting the vote from one voter, O’Neal nonetheless received the award with relative ease and deservingly so. He’ll go down as an all-time NBA nice and may actually have a higher character on TV now.