Prime Dwight Howard Was Something Else...

[Hathaway]

One of the most frustrating superstars besides Westbrook I've ever watched. To see this atheltically gifted nikka catch the rock on the post and only be able to fake baseline and go middle with that pitiful left jump hook was the most infuriating shyt to watch.

This nikka couldve been a top 3 C. No real work ethic. Too busy fukking underage girls and getting his culo blasted. Kobe exposed what we already knew. Stan Van tried to tell us.

 

[Hathaway]

He was also arguably the best defender of his generation, and led a team to the Finals. Past the super top tier of centers (Kareem, Moses, Shaq, Russell, Wilt, Hakeem), he’s in the next discussion, though likely the bottom of it (David, Ewing, Walton, etc). He’s in the lane with Parish, Embiid, Jokic, Alonzo, etc.

Jokic a 2x MVP

 

[TM101]

Homie dunking so hard you can hear the rim snap

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Prime Dwight would absolutely demolish players who couldn't physically match him, but then look ordinary once someone defended him competently.

Yao always used to outplay him when they went head-to-head and Pau completely hemmed him up in the '09 Finals. He never could do anything against the Pistons either.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

and it was still more affective than some of the bigs today. Rudy Gobert make Dwight look like Hakeem

But no one talks about Rudy Gobert (or Ben Wallace, or Dikembe Mutumbo, or Mark Eaton) as if they should be a serious MVP candidate.

Gobert is a defensive specialist and everyone knows it. Dwight wanted to be the next Shaq but at least from the outside it looked like he never worked on his game enough to reach his potential.

 

[Hersh]

hdef deserved top 75 over Klay and dame.

 

[Stinky Diver]

It always seemed like dwight in his prime would come into the season shooting that 15ft shot off the glass and as the season wore on..it slowly went away. Lol

 

[klutch2381]

One of the most frustrating superstars besides Westbrook I've ever watched. To see this atheltically gifted nikka catch the rock on the post and only be able to fake baseline and go middle with that pitiful left jump hook was the most infuriating shyt to watch.

This nikka couldve been a top 3 C. No real work ethic. Too busy fukking underage girls and getting his culo blasted. Kobe exposed what we already knew. Stan Van tried to tell us.

I’m a lifelong Magic fan (unfortunately). He did work hard in Orlando. You can’t have the physique dude had in his prime and not work hard. His problem was he had no real innate shooting touch (like a lot of big men) compounded by a weird hitch in his release, and a dearth of natural fluidity/agility. The latter, he really couldn’t do anything about. He tried to develop moves. He tried working with Hakeem. He was just too robotic and stiff. Look how fluid someone like Embiid or the joker is compared to Dwight in Orlando offensively . He basically could only really rely on a drop step and a little hook (once he had great position) as far as his “bag.”Despite his flaws, he carved out a great career. He was a damn good player in his prime. You have to be a great player to take the Magic from the doldrums. He definitely should have been on the NBA 75 team.

 

[OnFleekTing]

Kobe said he didn't have heart and it was curtains for him
The game also changed up right in the middle of his career

 

[Reggie]

Once he suffered the back injury he was never the same. But before then he was a monster. And if ever had a pure point guard in Orlando when he was in his prime his numbers on the offensive end would have been even better. It's true that he should have developed a few more moves in the post. But at the same time he wasn't Rodman or Big Ben out there either. He was still a 18-22 scorer who never averaged 15 shots a game in a season. Even with his shortcomings how much better would his numbers have been with a coach who made sure to get him 15-18 shots a night?

 

[Regular_P]

Nevermind Dame and AD. Rodman making Top 75 over him is inexcusable.

 

[HollywoodP]

He had a solid few seasons where he flourished when the team was built around him. His entire superstardom was built around his dunk contests and persona but he was never THAT guy. He came from that era where Stern was trying to manufacture dudes to carry the league. So cats like Dwight and Blake Griffin and Josh Smith were marketed like crazy and overhyped. Exciting for sure...but not quite as skilled all around as most of the REAL stars. Dwight was a helluva defender and dunking machine due to his athleticism tho. Made the finals and got cooked by Kobe. Injuries hurt his game but he's formed into a very solid role player. I didnt always...but i respect him now.

 

[murksiderock]

Dwight was the "next guy" after Kobe and LeBron for about a 3-5 year stretch. He was a 20 and 14 guy in his peak/prime who was regarded as the best defensive player in basketball, an absolute imposing figure...

Irregardless of the fact he didn't make NBA75, he's quite easily one of the 60 greatest players ever---->meaning no one can make a legitimate list of 60 players who balled at this level who were better than Dwight. He deserves his flowers...

 

[Gangstar8]

Always knew bynum was better

 

[#1 pick]

I always loved his game before the back injuries