When the NBA released their top 75 players in league history list for the 75th anniversary of the league a lot of debates came about. There are always going to be some snubs on lists like this or guys that make the list in which an argument could be made against them.
Arguably the biggest snub on the list was Los Angeles Lakers center, Dwight Howard. Howard was one of the best centers in the NBA for some time with the Orlando Magic as he was a force in the paint.
Whether it was rim-rattling dunks on the offensive side, highlight blocked shots on the defensive side or numerous rebounds, Howard made his presence felt on the interior. He was a true difference-maker and given how the end of his prime years went, people sometimes forget just how truly dominant he was.
In a recent interview with GQ, Dwight Howard opened up about his snub from the list and shared some of his feelings about it.
“I think that what I have done in my career, there’s no way it cannot be recognized. It was upsetting, at first. But, I didn’t take it too seriously. I felt before that I wasn’t gonna be on it because it felt like [the NBA] was trying to phase me out. People think I’m trying to blame the NBA for certain things, but I look at how certain things have happened in my career and I know some of these things are not on me. I’ve watched how I rarely get talked about when they mention [the Lakers]. It’s like I’m an afterthought. Like damn.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For Los Angeles Lakers — Pass Or Pursue
The perception of Howard changed drastically after he was acquired by the Lakers from the Orlando Magic in a four-team trade that also included the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers. That Lakers team fell well short of expectations, as Howard returned from too early and played through a back injury for the duration of the season.
He signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Rockets the next offseason, where he spent the next three seasons. He has spent every subsequent season with a different franchise. Howard was nearly out of the NBA following a nine-game stint with the Washington Wizards during the 2018-19 season, but a second chance with the Lakers resurrected his career.
Dwight Howard has been a solid bench contributor the last three seasons, helping the Lakers to the title in the Orlando Bubble in 2020 before spending one season with the 76ers and coming back to Los Angeles.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets For Los Angeles Lakers — Pass Or Pursue
In his career, Howard has been named an All-Star eight times and been named to an All-NBA team just as frequently. He was a five-time All-Defensive Team member and took home the Defensive Player of the Year award three times. The Atlanta, Georgia native also paced the NBA in blocks twice and rebounds five times.
With the resume that he has, there was a reason for him to be disappointed to not be named one of the best 75 players in NBA history, especially with the ring in 2020 being the cherry on top.
