Top 50: Dwight Howard, no. 5
The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.
by Myles Brown/@mdotbrown
The sun was at its peak on a glorious July afternoon in southern Florida. There wasn’t a cloud in sight and from here the tourists scurrying about the park were nothing mo
re than ants on a picnic table. From here, Dwight Howard was literally on top of the world.
Alone in the Aéro30, suspended 400 feet above Disney World, he rested his chiseled frame on a guardrail and marveled at a breathtaking view of the Magic Kingdom. ‘The only thing that could make this day better is a parade’, he sighed. As they had since the end of his season last month, his thoughts eventually turned to those fateful free throws and whether he’d ever get an opportunity to redeem himself. But on this day he was determined to leave the past as just that.
Back on solid ground, Howard continued with his itinerary. He went back in time on the Primeval Whirl, gasping at the twists, turns and startlingly lifelike dinosaurs. He strolled the Maharajah Jungle Trek and learned the Komodo dragon is actually just a big lizard. He delightfully sung along with every verse of the Finding Nemo musical. Twice. He shook hands, posed for pictures and signed autographs. Dwight Howard was having too much fun.
And then it happened. A loud gurgling emitted from his stomach. His abdomen tightened with discomfort as his bowels violently shifted, demanding relief. Dwight Howard had too much spicy curry chicken last night.
The wailing child still propped on his shoulders served as a siren for those in Howard’s path as he left behind a shoe, $1.31 in change and a nauseating streak of flatulence on his way to the nearest restroom.
Bursting through the door and into an empty stall, for the next five minutes the prodigious pivot let loose a comically animated series of discharges. Exhaling with glee upon conclusion, it wasn’t until he noticed the oversized loafers in the adjacent stall that Dwight became aware of his company and was slightly embarrassed. But before the poopetrator could muster an apology he was interrupted by the stranger’s cell phone.
Howard smiled at the sound of the ring tone-a rendition of ‘Onward, Christian Soldiers’-and couldn’t help but to eavesdrop on the conversation.“Yes, dear…. I know, I’m sorry, I’ll be out soon….Oh, okay, well where do they want to go?……Alright, I’ll meet you there in a bit….Love you too.”
Timid, but impressed with the stranger’s tenderness and relieved that he didn’t interrupt it with further indigestion, Dwight tapped the wall between them as a sign of approval. The stranger tapped back. Jim Severson didn’t bother to wash his hands and grabbed his son’s arm as he rushed out of the restroom, quizzically peering over his shoulder, clueless as to what would transpire next.
Howard and his neighbor simultaneously emerged from their stalls, both startled by what they saw.
“Dwight?” the stranger exclaimed.
“Mr.Robinson?”
Though it was his favorite movie, David Robison decided not to join his family for the Voyage of the Little Mermaid because it was difficult enough to spend that much time watching an underage, half-naked white girl in the animated feature. But a live performance? No thanks.
This being their first meeting, the Hall of Famer and his successor exchanged pleasantries and didn’t realize that they’d been drifting around the park for hours before arriving at the Teacup rides. They looked at each other and both knew that there was no way they weren’t going to give it a whirl. The two giants compacted themselves into a teacup and as the ride began, their conversation took a more serious turn.
“You know Dwight, before my career began my favorite Bible story was always the Book of Job. I thought the unimaginable suffering he endured as a testament to his faith should be inspirational to us all. But after I retired and looked back on things, I changed my mind. Not about Job-he still inspires me-but it just wasn’t my favorite story anymore. Now my favorite story is the one I identify with most, David and Goliath.”
Howard’s bulky neck tilted with confusion and his brow furrowed as Robinson continued.
“The character of a Christian is tested daily in such a powerful and hedonistic lifestyle as the NBA’s. Money, ego, drugs, alcohol, women….”
Howard cleared his throat, pursed his lips and looked downward in solemn contemplation. The teacups kept right on twirling.
“…and it seems at times in order to appeal or relate to people you need to engage in such activity. Public opinion has equated Christianity with pantywaisted squaredom and there were questions of whether I could lead or secure endorsements because of my faith. But I earned credibility both on and off the court and that influence has been able to do wonderful things for several people. The NBA Cares and Community assist awards may be fodder for cynical columnists, but I’ve seen the lives I and others have touched and thankfully I was blessed with enough money to do so much more. Hopefully God will bless me with a long life so that I can achieve those goals. I see that you take pride in this too and you should be inspired by your wealth, youth and the good that you can do with your life, Dwight.”
This filled the young center with joy. The approval of such a stellar example as Robinson meant everything to him and he hung on his elder’s every word.
“But your career-your lifespan in this game-is so much shorter and you must seize every opportunity. I wanted to be seen as a leader, a positive role model, a great player and a champion. I always knew this was just a game, but I wanted to use my God given ability to its fullest extent and blaze a new trail for men of a higher purpose. To show that you could be an all-time great and a man of God. However, sometimes I feel like I’ve fallen short and in my darker moments I even feel like I failed. Like I should’ve left a bigger mark. I wanted to show just how much a man of God could achieve and it’s an awful feeling to think that I could’ve achieved more. You don’t want to feel that way Dwight.”
Howard frowned not only at the thought of such a feeling, but in compassion for Robinson, whom he felt was being too hard on himself. Surely no one would consider such an accomplished career as a failure. Still, Robinson continued.
“A man, even one such as myself, wants to leave an indelible mark on this sport and that requires defeating other men of similar purpose. Men who will stop at nothing to leave that mark, not even if it means succumbing to their own ego and desires at the cost of others and their own soul. It’s a dangerous path, look at Michael for Christ’s sake. He became his own idol.
But that’s the kicker, the same thing that drove Michael is the same thing that drives the rest of us. Establishing yourself, leaving a mark, fulfilling potential, blah, blah, blah. It all involves one thing, winning. In order to win in this league you have to be truly driven. Single minded, obsessed even. But you can’t let the game, the desire consume you Dwight. That is where we must avoid the sins of pride and false idolatry. But you know what else? No one else is willing to play by those rules. The history books won’t care about your character, only your accomplishments. And let me tell you something, Wilt was right. it’s tough to be David when you’re built like Goliath.”
The teacups began to whirl at an unnatural speed and a cold wind cut across Howard’s face. He struggled with the complexities of such advice and it was tough to concentrate over the children’s cries for help. He became nervous. Robinson, wingspan encompassing the entire cup, remained calm.
“People tell me that I accomplished so much and it’s should be a testament to my faith that I maintained my beliefs while receiving so many accolades. But everything that I’ve achieved is a big fucking joke.”
And with that, a roaring fire was lit behind Mr.Robinson’s pupils. His rippling muscles swelled, his bloodstream visibly rushed and he almost seemed to be growing. Dwight was past nervous. He was getting scared.
“Maybe I should’ve been more aggressive, maybe God would’ve understood. Everything I achieved has been discredited. What am I remembered for? An MVP I apparently didn’t deserve, getting smothered by Olajuwon, emasculated by Rodman and crushed by Shaq. I never received any real recognition until recently and even that was short lived. People don’t even respect my rings! They’re Duncan’s! It’s bullshit!”
Robinson’s voice boomed and now there was no questions about it. He was growing right before Dwight’s eyes. The seams of his shirt popped, the buttons flew, his feet tore through the soft leather and the teacup cracked as it struggled to contain him. Onlookers fled and as Robinson literally grew through the ceiling the cracks revealed a sky filled with ominous black clouds. But the Spurs’ eyes remained fixated on his target who was paralyzed by fear.
“But now people actually have the nerve to compare you to me? I am David Robinson and so I know for damn sure that you’re no David Fucking Robinson! I scored 71 points in a game and won a scoring title! I averaged four and a half blocks with two steals in my third season! I was a threat from inside and out, I beat guards up the floor and jumped over centers!
You want to be me? Ha! Look at you, I was an unquestionable centerpiece of my team, yours won’t even give you the ball no matter how high your FG% is! A body and skills like that, yet you only took 12 shots a game last year?! And that was a career high? Are you fucking kidding me! Your team was the first in NBA history to take more than a third of their shots from three, they don’t respect you, you’re a joke!”
Howard tried to remain strong, but he no longer feared the imposing figure before him as much as it’s words. He was scared they were the truth.
“Do you know how long and how hard I had to fight to get what I’ve got? But the road to a championship has been practically fucking steamrolled and paved for you! There’s no Barkley, no Malone, no Olajuwon, there’s no one! You’re the only center in the league and you still refuse to dominate! Who is in your way? A hobbled K.G.? I’d tear right through that motherfucker! What do have to fear, Shaq?! Not only is he a shell of himself but he’s the antithesis of everything we’ve tried to represent! Humility, hard work, respect, loyalty…yet they fawn at his supposed greatness while he openly mocks us! Are you going to stand for that?! Huh, Superman?!”
Robinson was now more than 400 feet tall and chaos erupted around him. His bellowing could be heard over the emergency sirens for miles. Buildings crumbled around him, the earth shook and a torrential rain drenched Howard as his lip quivered and he began to swallow his tongue.
“You’re no David Robinson! If you were you’d have a post game. You’d make your free throws. You’d seize the leadership role. You’re no David Robinson, because David Fucking Robinson wouldn’t be at Disney World after blowing the NBA Finals, would he?! Would he?!”
Surrounded by flames and deafening screams Howard felt as though his heart could exlode at any moment. His mentor showed no mercy.
“ANSWER ME!!!”
Dumbfounded and petrified, Dwight David Howard did the only thing his body would allow.
He farted.
And then he woke up.
Drenched in sweat and surrounded by a foul stench, Howard leapt out of bed and bolted for the toilet. Alone in his bathroom at 3:15 AM he sat, still unsure of how to balance the principles of his faith with those of his profession. He was pretty sure that Shaq wasn’t the antichrist though.
He was however, certain of three things. He did have too much spiced curry chicken earlier that evening. He needn’t worry about comparisons to David Robinson yet, since he was entering his sixth season and will still be younger than the Admiral was as a rookie.
And he wasn’t going to Disney World tomorrow. He was going to the gym.
Notes
• Rankings are based solely on projected ‘09-10 performance.
• Contributors to this list include: Jake Appleman, Brett Ballantini, Russ Bengtson, Toney Blare, Shannon Booher, Myles Brown, Franklyn Calle, Gregory Dole, Emry DowningHall, Jonathan Evans, Adam Fleischer, Jeff Fox, Sherman Johnson, Aaron Kaplowitz, John Krolik, Holly MacKenzie, Ryne Nelson, Chris O’Leary, Ben Osborne, Alan Paul, Susan Price, Sam Rubenstein, Khalid Salaam, Kye Stephenson, Adam Sweeney, Vincent Thomas, Tzvi Twersky, Justin Walsh, Joey Whelan, Eric Woodyard, and Nima Zarrabi.
• Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.
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While Dwight Howard may arguably be head and shoulders above the league as the best defensive force in it right now… his offense is really that bad!
Myles, that was your best work, and you’ve written a lot of amazing things!
On topic: if you average the length of this piece, and yesterday’s piece on Duncan, you’d have just the right length.
Though I don’t think he’ll end up being as good a player on both sides of the ball as DRob was, Dwight definitely has time to improve his offense.
I mean, really great write-up.
Plus Nelson + White Chocolate will give Dwight more touches than shoot-first-Alston.
Again though, if his offense doesn’t improve (ie stop depending on that same old spin move, righty hook shot, and garbage baskets) he wont be able to score 25, much less 30, without dipping out of the 50% shooting range.
I think Dwight’s percentages will drop regardless though, since the floor will be more compact with less shooters.
ANSWER ME!!!
Lebrooom james aka queen james , CP3, and superman .
And comparing Dwight Howard to David Robinson is criminal. Just criminal.
I thought you weren’t going to waste anymore keystrokes on dude.
You gotta stay strong homie.
Career awards/accomplishments
His list of awards and accomplishments is long and include a number of records as well as sharing a number of distinctions with very few other luminaries of the game; for his on the court play, he was named among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. NBA Champion (1999, 2003)
NBA MVP (1995)
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1992)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1990)
All-NBA First Team (1991, ‘92, ‘95, ‘96)
All-NBA Second Team (1994, ‘98)
All-NBA Third Team (1990, ‘93, 2000, ‘01)
All-Defensive First Team (1991, ‘92, ‘95, ‘96)
All-Defensive Second Team (1990, ‘93, ‘94, ‘98)
10-time NBA All-Star
Only player in NBA history to win the Rebounding, Blocked Shots, and Scoring Titles and Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP
One of only four players to have recorded a quadruple-double
NBA Sportsmanship Award (2001)
Third player in NBA history to rank among the league’s top 10 in five categories in one season (7th in scoring (23.2 ppg), 4th in rebounding (12.2 rpg), 1st in blocks (4.49 per game), 5th in steals (2.32 per game) and 7th in field-goal percentage (.551))
First player in NBA history to rank among the top five in rebounding, blocks and steals (per game) in a single season[7]
Fourth player ever to score 70+ in an NBA game
3-time Olympian (1988, ‘92, ‘96)
One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)
Led NBA in Scoring (1993–94 season) - 29.8 ppg
Led NBA in Rebounding (1990–91 season) - 13.0 rpg
Led NBA in Blocked Shots (1991–92 season) - 4.49 bpg
Holds record for most IBM Awards (1990, ‘91, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96)
His 10,497 rebounds and 2,954 blocked shots are the most by any player wearing a San Antonio Spurs jersey, and his 20,790 points are second most only to George Gervin’s 23,602. (Had only Gervin’s NBA numbers been taken into account, Robinson would be #1 in this category; Gervin scored 4,219 of his points while the franchise was in the American Basketball Association.)
Gold Medal in 1986 FIBA World Championship.[13]
Member of Dream Team #1 during Olympic Games at Barcelona.
Elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Elected to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2008 HE is very Overrated, Yet Right, I would take him over Shaq anyday. Plant that Seed!!!
#4. Steve Blake, #3. Travis Outlaw, #2. Kenyon Dooling, #1. Marcin Gortat
4. Larry Hughes
3. Ben Wallace in zombie form
2. Sun Yue
1. Luke Walton’s stalker
If Robinson’s peak coincided with Hakeem’s peak, then he wasn’t the best center in basketball.
Just being able to do more doesn’t make you better. Remember the discussion regarding Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett a while back?
They changed the rules for Kareem and Wilt as well.
Just so you know.
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@ PANAGIOTIS, normally i never intend any disrespect to people on this board, but your list of top PFs/Cs is the most moronic thing i have read in a long while. A long past it Shaq over dwight?!?! Whilst coincedentally 3 of your top 5 are European, two of which I would agree with, but one of whom isnt even in the L. THE BIGGEST LMFAO EVER. Tens of millions go into NBA scout networks, don’t you think they’d of picked up upon a 23year Center if he was a good as u say (and ive seen him for Serbia, he didnt even stand out)… over Bosh? over KG? over Dwight? over STAT? over Shaq? over West? over Smith? over Aldridge? over Boozer?
@ jukai: I never said he wasn’t talented. But that’s what i hate about him, he was too good to be ignored that he never really cared for it that much. He admitted to not loving basketball and how it’s just a job. Passion should be the one defining characteristic of an athlete. He never had it. He would much rather play the piano. On that talent alone, it got him to being one of the top 50 ever but i’m just not a fan of players not committed to their sport.
… really should proof read my comments
Shaq’s best post move? The offensive foul.
So, have fun debating with yourself
Just cut it out, you sound like a broken record.
Oh and my creation myth reference is regarding the book of Genesis, with its pages frequently referred to by Christians and Judaists as the ’story of creation’; a book which is riddled with pure delusion. If you acknowledge evolution, which is an empirical fact, and believe God initiated the whole process billions of years ago then thats fine, thats your personal intution and no one can argue otherwise because there isnt anything to say otherwise. Anyway im not on this board to discuss religion so im not going to say anything more but again reiterate my apology for my confusion of poster’s
Now, did dude seem too nice at times, yeah, he did. Did he seem like the pressure might have gotten to him on occasion, sure. But the same can be said for players like Lebron and KG and neither of them has accomplished what Robinson accomplished both on and off the court.
Bottom line is that Myles is exactly right, Dwight Howard should never, EVER be compared to David Robinson strictly based on their skills. It’s just a stupid comparision, like comparing Adam Morrison to Larry Bird.
And the people who think Shaq would just abuse Wilt Chamberlain…Well, we had this argument on the top 50 of all time list Slam put up a while back.
@360vue……:you write “and ive seen him for Serbia, he didnt even stand out”. Great and i saw Gasol for China…..some of you are so s….d (count them hursty) that i really think that you are writing those things intentional….at the same time this ain’t a new trend, it is quite usual here, you generally like to make affirmations for players that you don’t even know their existence before i mention them….the leader of course is Jukai whose comments on Belov and Siskauskas were pure entertainment (at least he quickly aknowledged his monumental stu…..y by saying that “sorry, i just found out that Belov was voted greatest player in the history of FIBA over Drazen,Sabonis etc, he must be a good one..!!” ….for those gems he is one of my favorites)
@Russ…..:greatest teamate David Robinson ever had before Duncan is Žarko Paspalj() hands down. Unfortunatelly for David he had him for just a year. Zarko(current vice-president of the Serbian Olympic Committee and captain of the team that took to the limit U.S. in the 1996 final before Divac was sent out and David Robinson ate alive a young Zeliko Rebraca) answered why he didn’t stay in the NBA many years later by saying: “i was afraid about my health, they were giving us loads of chemicals and nobody was saying a thing”….(S.Elliott barely survived by the way….)
1. Shaq
2. Hakeem
3. Robinson
4. Ewing
5. Ostertag (lol)
3: Larry Hughes
2: Isiah Rider
1: Steve Kerr
@ PANAGIOTIS VASILOPOULOS I don’t know what you’ve inhaled.. but you should stop it now.. You seem to always be arguing that FIBA players are somehow better than NBA players.. if you would kindly direct your attention to Beijing 2008……..
Dwight Howard > Pau Gasol
Hard to gauge where Tim Duncan is though. He’s obviously better than Pau. But Howard is really still young.
1. Hakeem
2. Shaq
3. Robinson
4. Ewing
5. Alonzo
6. Mutumbo
7. Rik Smits
8. Arvydas Sabonis (He would probably be higher but we hadn’t seen him in the NBA until years after his prime).
Am I missing anyone? The top 6 are all hall of fame bound and all candidates for NBA’s Greatest 50.
I did admit to my mistake with Belov… dude was never allowed to play in the NBA, but from what I understand, he was like the Russian Rick Barry. I just didn’t recognize his name at first. I can’t personally comment on his game or add him to any list I make, but from what I’ve read, every single US dude who played him said the guy just tore it up. So I’ll allow your idolization of him.
Siskauskas is straight dumb though. Dude’s all hands and feet, he’s more athletic than he is anything else (which you hate) but because he’s pulled a Vince Carter in the last few years (IE chucking it up every chance he gets instead of taking it to the hole, where he’s more valuable) you’ve fallen in love with him. Typical.
Don’t get me wrong, Siskauskas would be a fringe all-star in America, but only because he’s so damn athletic. Not really for his game smarts.
I see your really down on Big Sofo after his absolute failure to dominate coming to America. Another lost crush, eh?
2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
3. Bill Russell
4. Hakeem Olajuon
5. Shaq
6. Moses Malone
7. David Robinson
8. Bill Walton
9. Patrick Ewing
10. Arvydas Sabonis
11. Willis Reed
11. Artis Gilmore
12. Walt Bellamy
13. Wes Unseld
14. Nate Thurmond
15. Dave Cowens
16. Wes Unseld
17. Dan Issel
18. Bob Lanier
19. Dikembe Mutumbo
20. Robert ParishMark Eaton/Alanzo Mourning/Rick Smits/Vlade Divac
Also, why Arvydas Sabonis ahead of Willis Reed?!
1. This article is incredible 2. Dwight Howard ought to avergae 25-16 with a few assists, a steal and 4 blocks a night. No excuses. He’s too much to handle for 98% of the league. 3. Top 4 should be CP3, then Kobe, then Wade, then Bron. Wade is officially better than Kobe, barring an injury. You cannot doubt it or argue against it, it is fact.
2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
3. Bill Russell
4. Shaq
5. Dream
6. Malone
7. Robinson
8. Walton
9. Patrick Ewing
10. Reed
11. Thurmond
11. Gilmore
12. Bellamy
13. Unseld
14. Sabonis
15. Mutombo
16. Unseld
17. Mourning
18. Cowens
19. Issel
20. Divac
Dwyane Wade should be ranked at number 2 over Bryant and Paul btw.
walton was agreat talent but had a couple good seasons.
ewing avg 20 10 for 13 seasons. stats arent everything but c’mon
walton was agreat talent but had a couple good seasons.
ewing avg 20 10 for 13 seasons. stats arent everything but c’mon
walton was agreat talent but had a couple good seasons.
ewing avg 20 10 for 13 seasons. stats arent everything but c’mon
walton was agreat talent but had a couple good seasons.
ewing avg 20 10 for 13 seasons. stats arent everything but c’mon
___
For what its worth, I’m taking Duncan over Dwight for the 09/10 season all day, every day. Its not even all that close either.
Sabonis is over Reed because a) Sabonis was insanely good. Every single Olympian who played against him couldn’t believe how good their soviet center was… and unlike other ‘fake’ superstars who Spanny idolizes that tried out for the NBA but couldn’t make it, Sabonis would have been a top dog in the NBA but wasn’t allowed to because the USSR would have killed his family. But it’s more than that… I just think Willis Reed was a bit overrated. Reed is my Dad’s favorite player, he has some recorded footage from the games he went to as a child, and nothing Reed did impressed me, really. I think Reed gets a lot of credit for his amazing walk-on game seven more than anything else.
You’re right though, it is hard to gauge things, and it’s sort of unfair how I cut Mikan short but not other old dogs.. but when Chamberlain and
To my knowledge, Sabonis was the only really good center who was barred from playing in the states because of the USSR. Everyone else was allowed to play in the league, but couldn’t… I mean, if you look at the Euroleagues from 1984-1999, it was all Sabonis: he was literally winning MVP everywhere he went. He dominated the league, he WRECKED it. He was an NBA-level player playing in leagues which weren’t up-to-par at the time. That’s why he’s so high.
Your list on ‘if they played today’ isn’t bad though, and it’s actually not really that different than mine. I think you’re underrating Cowens: his passing and leadership would put him higher on your list… and I’d drop Mutumbo… raise Sabonis.. but other than that, it’s a pretty good list. When you’re rating all-time, there’s a LOT of wiggle room.
Shaq’s skills might have actually been better in his Orlando days. I actually saw him hit a few turn around jumpers!
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