He captured three consecutive NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards, showcasing his dominance<\/a> and impact as an elite center.<\/p>\n Despite his impressive resume, Dwight Howard<\/a> recently expressed admiration for another player\u2019s career persistence.<\/p>\n Following the reports that said Al Horford<\/a> will join the Golden State Warriors<\/a>, Howard shared his feelings on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cAl Horford inspiring me man! Same high school class and he is still going,\u201d Howard wrote on his social media platforms.<\/p>\n Al Horford inspiring me man ! Same higschool class and he still going \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8<\/p>\n \u2014 Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) September 28, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n Both players are currently 39 years old, though Howard entered the NBA earlier than Horford.<\/p>\n The Orlando Magic <\/a>legend was drafted straight from high school in 2004, while Horford attended college before entering the league.<\/p>\n Despite Horford\u2019s later NBA entry and less spectacular individual career compared to Howard\u2019s peak dominance, he has maintained a longer active career.<\/p>\n Next season as Golden State\u2019s starting center<\/a>, Horford will begin his 19th NBA season.<\/p>\n Al Horford\u2019s adaptability contrasts with Dwight Howard\u2019s traditional approach<\/p>\n Horford\u2019s career longevity stems largely from his adaptability to the modern game.<\/p>\n He transformed his playing style into a stretch-big<\/a> capable of three-point shooting beginning in the 2015-16 season.<\/p>\n His evolution has been statistically impressive, making the fourth-most three-pointers (877) by a center in NBA history, trailing only Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a>, Brook Lopez, and Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107.<\/p>\n Howard\u2019s offensive game never evolved to include consistent perimeter shooting or advanced playmaking despite his undeniable physical tools.<\/p>\n As a traditional rim protector, many teams viewed Howard as a liability in modern pick-and-roll schemes against smaller, faster guards.<\/p>\n ![\"Dwight](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-141263747-881x627.jpg\")
Photo by Sam Greenwood\/Getty ImagesDwight Howard acknowledges Al Horford\u2019s continued NBA relevance at age 39<\/p>\n