Howard was dominant in his prime and proved himself to be a productive role player even following his days in Orlando.
Ex-Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard was one of the most dominant big men to have played in the NBA over the last two decades. Despite his accolades and star performance, many may question if Howard’s career was worthy enough to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Former NBA All-Star Cedric Ceballos revealed his stance on the former Lakers Hall Of Fame candidacy:
“First, are we saying defense is not a Hall of Famer? Dikembe Mutombo is there, you know what I’m saying…Alonzo Mourning is there. ”
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Bally Sports jumped in by highlighting Hall of Famer Ben Wallace.
“Those are guys who set their mark in this league on being a defensive stopper and a defensive presence,” Ceballos said. “[Howard] is a rebounder, I think he was up there even in scoring. It’s a Barry Bonds situation. The numbers are there. Because his relationship with the media or people who are voting is not putting him in, but…I know playing against him, watching him play he’s definitely a Hall of Famer.”
The former center collected multiple awards and accolades over the course of his career, including eight All-Star selections, five All-NBA First Team selections, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Howard is undoubtedly one of the greatest centers of his era, but does he deserve a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame?
Howard was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA draft, and he quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. Howard was the driving force behind that Magic team, averaging 18.4 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks during his time with the Magic.
After eight seasons in Orlando, the big man was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers During his second stint in LA, he was a contributor to the Lakers championship team as he won his first and only ring with them. The fact that Howard has only one ring is one of the knocks against his Hall of Fame candidacy.
Another criticism of Howard’s Hall of Fame candidacy is that his peak years were relatively short-lived. Although he wreaked havoc for the first half of his career, his performance declined due to injuries and age. Nevertheless, Howard was a dominant player in his prime and always presented himself as a productive role player even following his days in Orlando.
It is pretty difficult to argue that Dwight Howard is not one of the greatest centers of his era. His defensive awards speak for themselves, because like Ceballos mentioned, defense is a large part of the game. Howard’s impact on the league cannot be ignored.
While Howard may not have the championship rings of some of his contemporaries, his individual accomplishments are significant enough to warrant consideration for the Hall of Fame.
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