Last Updated:September 04, 2025, 10:51 IST
Howard joins the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, joining legends like Carmelo Anthony, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles.
Dwight Howard in his iconic Superman costume in the 2008 Dunk Contest (AP)
For years, Dwight Howard has had one message for his critics: look at the numbers.
He averaged 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game across his career. Only 13 players in NBA history have matched those averages for a career — and all of them are in the Hall of Fame.
“So, why not me?” Howard once asked.
This weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts, he no longer needs to ask. The eight-time All-Star, five-time rebounding champion, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year will officially be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy after years of debate.
A Career of Dominance and Longevity
Howard remains the only player in league history to win Defensive Player of the Year three consecutive times (2009–2011). He also led the NBA in rebounding five times, in blocked shots twice, and finished his career with an NBA championship ring earned with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, when they defeated the Miami Heat in the Orlando bubble finals.
“I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve had longevity, and I’ve been able to play as long as I’ve been able to play and stay as healthy as I have,” Howard said.
“And I want people to say that one thing about me is that I was always going to put my best foot forward, 100% effort. They can say, ‘No matter what it is, he’s going to put in everything he has.’”
Statistically, Howard ranks 10th all-time in rebounds and 13th in blocks, joining only Elvin Hayes in finishing a career with comparable averages in points, rebounds, and blocked shots. His résumé left little doubt he belonged in the Hall.
A Star Among Stars in 2025 Class
Howard enters alongside an illustrious group. He is one of two “dual enshrinees” this weekend, joining Carmelo Anthony as a Hall of Famer both individually and as a member of the legendary 2008 U.S. Olympic “Redeem Team”, which won gold in Beijing.
Also joining the Hall are women’s basketball icons Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, longtime NBA referee Dan Crawford, and Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, who won back-to-back NCAA titles at Florida.
(with AP inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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