Former NBA heart Dwight Howard has been elected to the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame and will likely be a part of the category of 2025, stories Shams Charania of ESPN.
The primary general decide within the 2004 draft, Howard instantly grew to become the beginning heart for the Magic and spent the following eight seasons in Orlando, profitable three Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards with the group 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 group 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 3 times, he made an All-Defensive group 5 groups, together with claiming a spot on the First Staff for 4 years in a row from 2009-12.
Howard led the league in rebounding 5 instances and presently ranks eleventh on the NBA’s all-time rebounding checklist. He was additionally the league chief in blocked photographs twice and ranks fifteenth all-time in that class.
The large man didn’t play faculty basketball however fortified his Corridor of Fame résumé by profitable an Olympic gold medal with Staff USA in Beijing in 2008.
The Corridor of Fame will formally announce its full class of 2025 on Saturday on the NCAA Last 4. In response to reporting from Charania, Howard and one other former NBA star, Carmelo Anthony, will likely be among the many first-ballot choices in that group.