Speaking as someone who appreciates NBA history, I am pleased that Steve Nash possesses a couple of MVP awards. He was an incredibly enjoyable distributor of the ball, an excellent marksman from beyond the arc, and the leader of an unforgettable offensive system.
However, it’s possible he wasn’t the most deserving of those accolades.
During the 2004-05 season, Shaquille O’Neal and Dirk Nowitzki both performed exceptionally well for the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, who achieved records of 59-23 and 58-24, respectively. Shaq’s stat line included averages of 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 blocks, while Dirk accumulated 26.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per contest.
Nash, conversely, put up 15.5 points and 11.5 assists for the Suns, who ended the year with the best record in the league at 62 wins.
The subsequent year, Nash secured another MVP title with averages of 18.8 points and 10.5 assists while leading Phoenix to 58 victories. LeBron James—at the young age of 21—amassed 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first 50-win season in 13 years. (And let’s not forget Kobe Bryant, who lit up opposing defenses with 35.4 points per game.)
Shaq, Dirk, and LeBron each went on to win MVP awards, so at least Nash’s perhaps questionable selections didn’t preclude those players from experiencing a career-defining accomplishment.
