Dwight Howard has been selected for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, according to reports. He will be part of the 2025 class, which will be fully announced on April 5th at the NCAA Final Four ceremony. Carmelo Anthony is also a first-time nominee in this class.
Howard played for 18 seasons across seven teams and achieved significant accolades. He was an eight-time All-Star and eight-time All-NBA team selection. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times and contributed to the 2008 Olympic `Redeem Team` that won the first of five consecutive gold medals. His only NBA championship came with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
Throughout his career, Howard averaged 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. His impact was particularly strong during his peak years with the Orlando Magic. He led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals where they faced Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
In Orlando, coach Stan Van Gundy built a system around Howard that was innovative for its time, featuring four shooters around him. Although not a traditional post scorer, Howard`s physical dominance required opponents to double-team him. This Magic team is often credited with pioneering the emphasis on the three-point shot, even though their volume of three-pointers now seems low compared to today`s NBA. The team was centered on Howard, who also excelled at rebounding and blocking shots with his exceptional athleticism.
In 2012, Howard joined the Lakers in an attempt to form a superteam with Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol. However, the superteam didn`t meet expectations. Nash was struggling with injuries, and the Lakers barely made the playoffs as the seventh seed, only to be quickly eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs.
Howard and Bryant did not mesh well, both in terms of playing style and personality. After just one season, Howard chose to leave money on the table and signed with the Houston Rockets, where he played for three seasons, earning his last All-Star selection in 2014.
After Houston, Howard played for several teams for single seasons each, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington. He then returned to the Lakers in 2019-20 and played a crucial role in their championship victory, contributing size and defense. He was particularly effective on the offensive boards and provided valuable size alongside Anthony Davis. His contributions were significant to the Lakers` championship run.
Following a season with Philadelphia, Howard rejoined the Lakers for a third time in his final NBA season, capping off a Hall of Fame worthy career.
Jasper Hawthorne