Dwight Howard has officially been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on first ballot after an impressive 18-year NBA career and his reaction was super wholesome.
The 39-year-old was recently inducted into the Orlando Magic’s Hall of Fame as well, but calls the Naismith HOF ‘heaven’.
“I knew I was gonna do it,” Howard told SportsCenter. “I was trying not to cry so bad, but I’m so just so grateful and so thankful for God and this opportunity. It’s such a big honor. I’m just so happy, this is so crazy. I made it to heaven.”
Howard’s accolades in the basketball space include:
-eight-time All-Star
-three-time Defensive Player of the Year
-eight All-NBA selections
-led the NBA in rebounding five times and blocks twice
-ranking 10th all-time in NBA history in rebounds
-ranks 13th all-time in blocks
-led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals and later
-won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020
-2008 Olympic gold medalist
Dwight was the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft out of high school and was a dominant player on both ends of the court straight out of the blocks, but defense was his favorite.
“I started playing basketball at a very young age, came into the NBA at 18, defense has just been my thing, just being the best defender, blocking all the shots, rebounding, making sure I make up for all my teammates’ mistakes,” Howard said to SportsCenter. “Just being there for everyone. It worked out for myself and I’ve just been so thankful.”
Also selected for enshrinement were Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony, WNBA greats Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Bulls coach and two-time NCAA champion Billy Donovan, Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison and longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford.
Enshrinement will be Sept. 5-6 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, and the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.