Dwight Howard Could Be One of the Best Ever
I’m watching the Clippers/Magic game and the L.A. announcers are in awe of Dwight Howard and his physical dominance in this game (dunking, blocking shots, altering shots, owning the glass, and generally just being a beast). I didn’t realize it until they mentioned on the broadcast, but today is Dwight’s 23rd birthday. As in he could be dominant for the next 10-15 years.
It’s crazy to think that a guy who averages close to 22 and 15 isn’t even in his prime, but that’s definitely the case with Dwight. He apparently works for hours every day with Patrick Ewing just shooting mid-range jumpers over and over and over again. Imagine if he actually adds that dimension to his game the way Pat did? We’ll be talking about Dwight as one of the best to ever play the game …
December 8th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Raj S says:
I hope he doesn’t end up relying on the mid-range jumper if he ends up developing it.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
JHov says:
D-Ho’s bday wish must have have been to get a 30pts-20rbs-10blks triple double!
December 8th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
JCARR says:
he’s on his way…
December 8th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
junior says:
he has 11/8/2 in the 2nd quarter dude is a beast.
he will be great.
i just hope he diversify his game but stays to his strengths.
great dude, great player
December 8th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Richard Wellner says:
No, he can’t, because he can’t hit a free throw. He can’t hit a jump shot. He is not a complete basketball player. When his springs are done and he can’t constantly dunk over people, he’ll be washed up worse than Shaq is.
You can’t make an argument for ‘one of the best ever’ if the person in question is not a complete basketball player. And Howard is VERy far from being a complete basketball player.
You heard it here, from Richard Wellner first: Dwight will never win a ‘chip.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:02 am
JCARR says:
@richard wellner
Wilt Chamberlain
December 9th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Richard Wellner says:
@JCARR:
Wilt was like, 40 years ago. There is a reason no one puts up 100 point games anymore.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:14 am
JamesOnCurie says:
Follow teh other great Orlando center… to LA.
But go to the Clippers.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Jau28 says:
And Wilt put up 78, 73, 73 as the next 3 careers highs in points scored. Grabbing 20+ rebounds too.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Richard Wellner says:
And we’re in a new era. What was once alright or awesome is now out of place or un-awesome.
Dwight can appear to dominate a regular season, but as long as his game is so fundamentally fragile, he will never win a meaningful playoff series, much less a championship.
If he doesn’t improve, we’ll talk about it on the Dimemag comment section in 10 years.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:37 am
BMW says:
@Richard Wellner
Your point about Dwight Howard that he won’t be great because he’s not complete is not untrue…Check Shaq out. It seems he can only score when he’s under the basket. But you hear people labeling him as the number one center of all time thus one of the greats that ever walked the hardwood. It’s just a matter of who you got around you, how far your team can go in the playoffs and of course your numbers. If he he keeps these numbers, ant the Magic people bring good players, he won’t even need a jumpshot and he’ll go down as one of the greatest if not the greatest.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Kevin says:
A lot of hyperbole for someone who hasnt accomplished jack s–t. He is an impressive specimen no doubt about it… but actions talk louder than words so Dwight gotta step up his game and lead his team to the promised land of the Finals and win.. until then he’s just like every other superstar without a ring.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:38 am
BMW says:
*True not untrue
December 9th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Richard Wellner says:
@BMW: While I do see the point you’re making with Shaq and his lack of a fundamental skill-set as exemplified by his free-throw shooting, I want to point out that Shaq is in a league of his own.
Where Shaq and Dwight are alike in that their ungodly physical gifts make them beasts, there is also a difference in the nature of the beast.
Shaq was and will always be huge. Dwight, while relying on sheer size no doubt, seems to get more out of his springs and explosiveness; where Shaq is just a huge donut-man.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Richard Wellner says:
sorry to post again, but the bottom line is that Shaq and Dwight, although very much alike, are worlds apart. And that is why Dwight will never win a championship, whereas Shaq was pretty much guaranteed championships wherever he went.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:46 am
the_don_mega says:
cat had just turned 23… lets give him more time to develop. at this point, he’s just to rough around the edges… if he does develop his game even more… i could guarantee he would be better than Shaq (talent wise)…
@BMW: case closed… you just ended the arguement there…
December 9th, 2008 at 12:59 am
junior says:
richard, you make great points.
but dwights game has made strides.
has it been enough?
no, but im willing to bet, improvement willcome
and his athleticism will always be his strength.
but a semi-reliable jumpshot and post moves, can be accomplished.
the kid is only 23. hes got time. but it needs to happen now.
and the difference between dwight and shaq, is
dwight has his ego in check for now, as shaq although, great his ego has stopped him from being no.1
but i agree int hat in about 2 or 3 years it iwll be interesting to see how he has progressed.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:00 am
junior says:
* needs to start to happen now. the emphasis on adding tools to the toolbox
December 9th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Dagomar says:
Wellner:
1) You don’t have to be a complete basketball player to be one of the greats. You just have to be among the best at a selection of skills. Bill Russell was not a great scorer. Wilt could not hit a free throw. Magic was never a great shooter and did not defend well. Larry was not a good one-on-one defender. Jordan couldn’t hit the three for half his career. Duncan can’t shoot freethrows; Shaq never could get the midrange jumper consistantly. Put it this way: would you rather have Wilt on your team, or a comfortably well-rounded Lamar Odom?
2) Shaq had incredible athleticism for such a big man. Howard is smaller but it’s a smaller league, period.
3) Granted, Howard can’t hit a jumpshot. But the whole point of the article is that Howard is only 23 with tons of time to improve that element of his game. Chances are he will with Ewing helping him train.
As for winning a chip? I’ll take that bet.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Phil B says:
when all is said and done, oden will have a better career.
December 9th, 2008 at 3:04 am
doc says:
U definitly dont have to be complete in everything to be considered the best.Damn near everyone had holes in they game even Mike except for 95-98 when he had none.
December 9th, 2008 at 3:04 am
caeubona says:
what this post is saying is that dwight howard is only 23, and that he is working with patrick ewing to develop his offense. meaning, we shouldn’t judge what his legacy is going to be based on what he’s doing now. for one thing, he’s only going to improve. he may never shoot free throws consistently, but he’s developing his offensive game (i.e., short jumphooks, bank shots, etc). howard right now is simply a physical beast who can overpower most other players to the rim, but as he gets older and more mature as a player, i believe he’ll also develop his game and take it to higher levels. as it stands now there are few centers in the game who can stop him. he has a lot of time; 23 is still a very young age.
and let’s not compare him to shaq. shaq belonged to another era of centers; let’s not forget that he went against hakeem olajuwon and patrick ewing and david robinson. howard belongs to this era: the era of the undersized center, or the center-forward. it’s hard to compare the two as they played in two different eras of basketball.
and yes, i do believe dwight howard will win a championship.
December 9th, 2008 at 3:07 am
Ian says:
jcarr
comon wilt could score in more ways than howard
he had an interview were he said if the three point line existed when he played he woulda score 150 not 100 (i know he was messing but still lol)
howard is really good but he can get those numbers because there arent any real centers can u imagine him in the 90s vs the admiral ewing hakeem shaq zo brad and those guys i think he would be the worst of the group. but hes 23 so theres time the thing is people talk when he develops something all the players i mentioned didnt develop shit they came into the league and from day one did their thing.
wellner
how the hell do u know hes not gonna win a chip???? what does that have to do with him hitting a mid range jumper
dagomar
excellent post on the alltime greats everyone had some are of their game that they sucked at
December 9th, 2008 at 3:09 am
Ian says:
phil b
i love oden but we dont know if he will have a long career.
doc
comon everyone had something they werent good at even 95-98 jordan (blocks lol)
on the championship thing every dominant big man has won a chip so howard will win one as he will be the best center in the league for some time
December 9th, 2008 at 4:57 am
5 it takes says:
wellner = hater! u hate on AI, u hate on Dwight, whats up with all the hate?
u focus too much on the weakness and dont pay much attention to the strenghts of D12.
Bottom line is he in the league and dominating in a way we ain’t seen since shaq in his prime while you proly still dreaming that you could be where he’s at at this stage of his career.
December 9th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Richard Wellner says:
5 it takes, Richard Wellner is not a hater. AI does suck, though I admit I might have been too harsh in predicting no chips for that chippy guy, Doc Howard.
December 9th, 2008 at 6:32 am
twodoor says:
…and some people were thinking that Okafor should have been the 1st pick in the draft.
December 9th, 2008 at 7:05 am
yoda says:
true, shaq and dwight can’t be compared. but what i’ve read about dwight is that he has really good working habits which shaq didn’t had. so, i believe that dwight might be one of greatest if he keeps working like he did so far.
December 9th, 2008 at 7:33 am
the rocket cat says:
Pick up a ping pong ball. Get one of those tiny dixy paper cups. Try to throw the ping pong ball into the cup. Now you understand why Dwight can’t shoot freethrows. Look at the size of those hands.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Tim says:
Who needs post-moves if you can dunk on 3 players?
http://ezinearticles.com/?Dwight-Howard-Dunk-Or-How-To-Increase-Vertical-Jump&id=664453
December 9th, 2008 at 9:32 am
JA says:
For the next 10-15 years?? 15 might be pushing it just a bit, don’t you think? He’d be 38 in 15 years!
December 9th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Cass says:
@ JA,
It’s not out of the question that he could play for 15 years. He’s a physical specimen. Science and training techniques could very well keep him in great shape til he’s 38 or beyond.
December 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am
JBFC says:
First it was Kobe; now it’s Dwight Howard. It’s amazing how far the editors of this magazine will go to discredit and insult LeBron James. The institutional bias against LeBron at this magazine is staggering.
December 9th, 2008 at 10:44 am
caeubona says:
uh, JBFC, how does this magazine insult and discredit LeBron James? I don’t see any insult directed towards LeBron James in this post.
December 9th, 2008 at 10:46 am
caeubona says:
and i agree with number 28 up there, yoda. can you ever see dwight coming to training camp out of shape like shaq does? or saying that he’ll heal in company time cause he got injured in company time? that’s one difference i can see between the two of them.
December 9th, 2008 at 11:05 am
rkirby says:
JBFC, what the hell are talking about?
December 9th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
dano says:
oden will not have a better career than howard, simply because oden is made of glass, and has an even more limited offensive and defensive skillset than dwight! whats oden’s supposed “strength”? defense. what better defender (besides timmy d) would you want in the lane than dwight? greg “i get knee surgery at 20″ oden? hell no.
this article was about dwight being the best ever in 3-5 years. keep in mind that he’ll only be 28 in five years. let him work with pat and if he gets ANY kind of midrange….its over.
and also, shaq was not guaranteed championships wherever he went, i believe he had two guys….what were their names?….o yeah, kobe and dwade. and as much as the lakers were shaqs team, kobe definitely helped get him those championships, and no one should argue that wade is the reason shaq won his fourth.
who does howard have right now? lewis, turkgolu? yeah right. get the guy a legit second-tier, consistent wing man (a perhaps a point that can do anything) and watch what happens to the magic.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Ian says:
cass
u r right
the admiral played till he was 37-38 because of the shape he was in and still retired being very good unlike the dream and ewing damn that was sad.
December 9th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Ian says:
but with the iverson thing im with wellner without the hate (quest u know u r my boy so dont be mad). iverson is one of the most overrated players ever
May 25th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Rob Buti says:
Dwight Howard is on ROIDS!!!!!