Former NBA heart Dwight Howard has been elected to the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame and might be a part of the category of 2025, stories Shams Charania of ESPN (X link).
The primary total decide within the 2004 draft, Howard instantly turned the beginning heart for the Magic and spent the following eight seasons in Orlando, profitable three Defensive Participant of the Yr awards with the workforce and ending within the high 5 in MVP voting in 4 consecutive seasons from 2008-11. The Magic made the playoffs in six straight years throughout Howard’s tenure, showing within the NBA Finals in 2009.
From 2012-22, Howard bounced across the NBA, spending time with the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Hornets, Wizards, and Sixers. He had three separate stints with the Lakers throughout that decade and gained his first and solely championship with the workforce in 2020.
Howard earned a complete of eight All-Star nods and appeared on eight All-NBA groups, together with 5 First Groups, over the course of his 18-year NBA profession. Along with profitable DPOY thrice, he made an All-Defensive workforce 5 groups, together with claiming a spot on the First Crew for 4 years in a row from 2009-12.
Howard led the league in rebounding 5 occasions and at present ranks eleventh on the NBA’s all-time rebounding listing. He was additionally the league chief in blocked pictures twice and ranks fifteenth all-time in that class.
The massive man didn’t play school basketball however fortified his Corridor of Fame résumé by profitable an Olympic gold medal with Crew USA in Beijing in 2008.
The Corridor of Fame will formally announce its full class of 2025 on Saturday on the NCAA Ultimate 4. Based on reporting from Charania, Howard and one other former NBA star, Carmelo Anthony, might be among the many first-ballot picks in that group.