Dwight Howard spent eight seasons with the Orlando Magic, dominating the league from 2004 to 2012. He bounced around various teams in the back half of his career, which is what most people remember. Howard struggled to find a role as the league shifted to positionless basketball. Orlando remembers what he meant to the franchise and will be honoring him later this month with an induction into the team’s Hall of Fame.
Dwight Howard To Be Inducted In Orlando Magic Hall Of Fame
Dwight Howard will be inducted later this month, on Monday, March 24, before their matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Orlando Magic opened their franchise’s Hall of Fame in 2014, and Howard will be the 13th person to be inducted. Looking back at his stats and accolades, it is not hard to see why the team wants to honor the big man. The team drafted him number one overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. He proceeded to play in 621 games for the team and had no shortage of success.
During his Orlando Magic tenure, he averaged 18.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.77 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the field. He also led the team to postseason success, helping it reach the 2009 NBA Finals and the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. In 57 playoff games, he averaged 19.9 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.77 blocks per game. He received an extensive list of awards and accolades during his eight seasons in Orlando.
Awards And Accolades
From 2007 to 2012, he was named first-team All-NBA, with one of those selections being unanimous. This is the most of any player in Orlando Magic history. Dwight Howard was the first player in NBA history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award three years straight, doing so from 2008 to 2011. He was named NBA All-Defensive first-team four times and was named an All-Star six times.
His accolades were just for his on-the-court play. He was given the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award six times, also a team record. This award is given to players who dedicate efforts to improve the lives of others off the court. The records don’t stop there. He is the all-time leader in points scored (11,435), rebounds (8,072), blocked shots (1,344), free throws made (3,366), free throws attempted (5,727), and minutes played (22,471).
Final Thoughts
Dwight Howard is also a finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this season. Given how the game has changed over the past two decades, it is hard to imagine a player like Howard dominating. It shows how much the league has changed, but during his prime, he was one of the most dominant players on the court.
