Shaquille O’Neal’s ROTY Rant Challenged by Ex-Rival After Victor Wembanyama Honor Digs Up Bitter Memory

You’d think Shaq would be happy just to win Rookie of the Year and MVP. But more than once he’s come close to making history as an unanimous honoree. One of which was during his rookie year. But unfortunately for him, Alonzo Mourning was in the league that year too. The lingering petty feelings resurfaced when 1993 ROTY Shaquille O’Neal announced Victor Wembanyama as the unanimously voted 2024 ROTY on TNT. Typical petty Shaq not only brought laughter to the Inside Guys and the audience but also to the guy who ruined it for him.

Alonzo Mourning was on All The Smoke and he just had to dig the stake deeper into Shaq. He disclosed that Shaq was the one who called him during a commercial break on TNT after he yelled, “Damn you, Alonzo,” on the live broadcast. Mourning’s response was, “I still love you, man, let me enjoy my two votes.”

In May 1993, Shaquille O’Neal snagged ROTY with 96 votes. It wasn’t a unanimous 98 because two votes went to Alonzo Mourning. Statistically, both had very impressive seasons but it was Mourning who helped the Charlotte Bobcats to the playoffs beyond Shaq’s Orlando Magic. If that was taken into account, he told Shaq and the show’s fans, “ it should have been Co-Rookie of the Year because I always tell him Orlando didn’t make it to the playoffs.” What would that have looked like?

Shaq averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.53 blocks. Zo had 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks, a little behind because Mourning didn’t see as many minutes as Shaq. Back then, Shaq’s frenemy, Charles Barkley had even said Alonzo had the “worst attitude I ever saw in a rookie… he’s going to be great.” What did Chuck think about rookie Shaq? “No. 1, he ugly.”

The other difference between Shaq and Zo is that the latter is content enjoying the single-digit votes rather than mourning (pun intended) over the loss. O’Neal couldn’t even savor the wins for the opposite reason.

Shaq can hold grudges better than votes

On TNT, Ernie took great pleasure in reminding Shaq he was not a unanimous ROTY because Alonzo got the two votes. Kenny insisted that Mourning deserved at least those two votes for the season he had but Shaq claimed, “Like hell, he can.” Chuck, to save his sensibilities, urged Shaq not to open the envelope containing the name of this year’s ROTY.

It wasn’t Victor Wembanyama winning as much as Wemby winning unanimously with 99 votes. NBA historians remember when Shaq was one vote away from becoming the first unanimously voted MVP 16 years before Steph Curry actually became it. That single vote went to Allen Iverson. Instead of begrudging AI, he holds a grudge against Fred Hickman, the late TNT sportscaster, and Ernie and Chuck’s old friend.

Despite his friends telling him to get over it, Shaq’s making petty his brand. We honestly can’t imagine him any other way.