Dwight Howard has received a prestigious honor. He has been selected as a first-ballot member of the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Howard had a career full of memorable highs, earning 8 All-Star appearances, 8 All-NBA Team selections, 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards, an Olympic gold medal winner, and he was an NBA Champion in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was one of the greatest big men of his generation, especially during his years with the Orlando Magic. This selection and first ballot status is a very deserving one.
Dwight Howard’s Career
He was drafted by the Magic in 2004. He was the first overall pick out of high school and went on to win the Rookie of the Year award. Howard averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. His numbers would only go up from there. By his third season, he earned his first All-Star bid and was an All-Star for eight seasons in a row. During that time, Howard rose to become the best center in the NBA. He won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He also led Orlando to the NBA Finals in 2009, where they were defeated by the Lakers.
In an era of the Boston Celtics and there “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, and a young Lebron James leading the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwight Howard was right there with them. He was a consistent MVP candidate and made five consecutive All-NBA First Teams. But, after a few more seasons with the Magic, Howard grew frustrated. Rumors began to swirl that he wanted out of Orlando when they missed the playoffs just two seasons after making the finals. He was traded to the Lakers, forming a new big three with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.
The group never worked out in Los Angeles. Nash dealt with injuries and was not the same player he once was, and while Howard was an All-Star, he had a drop off in production. Also, he and Bryant did not see eye-to-eye. After just one season, Howard moved on and joined the Houston Rockets. He had a bit of a resurgence in Houston alongside James Harden, but it was also where his All-Star and All-NBA appearances stopped.
Later Years
After his time in Houston, Howard began to bounce around the league. He had one-year stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, and Washington Wizards before returning to the Lakers. In Los Angeles, Howard proved he could still be a contributor on a championship team. His production did not reach the heights it did in Orlando, but he was still an interior defensive force. Lebron James and Anthony Davis got most of the credit for the Lakers 2020 championship, but Dwight Howard was a valuable piece as well.
Howard was only in the NBA for two more seasons after the Lakers championship. He had a brief run with the Philadelphia 76ers and a third stint with the Lakers, before moving to play basketball overseas. While he became a journeyman in the latter half of his career, his Hall of Fame selection should not come as a surprise to those who saw him play at his peak. Howard was a dominant force and one of the best of his era.
Final Thoughts
Howard was named to the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame as a first-ballot member. With all of his accolades, from All-Stars to Defensive Player of the Year awards, this is well deserved. Because of his later years, many new fans underrate him, but this selection cements him as one of the greats.
