Dwight Howard is a lot of things. He’s the staring center for the Houston Rockets, the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, an 8-time NBA All-Star, an 8-time member of the All-NBA team, 3-time defensive player of the year and former Slam Dunk champion.
To fans – and other NBA players – Dwight has been criticized for being soft. Despite those claims, Howard says he battled through some pretty tough injuries in the postseason and it had made the image of him change a little bit.
One thing Dwight also reportedly believes he could be compared to, or used to believe, are legendary figures like Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali or Nelson Mandela.
Following from George Diaz’s interview with former Orlando Magic CEO Bob Vander Weide in the Orlando Sentinel.
“When he told me he was an icon, guess what three names he used [to compare himself to]?” Vander Weide said. “Michael Jordan. Muhammad Ali. Nelson Mandela.”
Let’s pause for a sec while we all do a faceplant.
“Are you kidding me?’” Vander Weide said. “We’ve been to the Finals once and you’re a great athlete, and you’re an icon like these three? I knew it was over. I knew there was no chance of keeping him.”
Vander Weide knew it was over for Howard in Orlando and his career has been a roller coaster since he left the Magic. Comparisons to these three legendary men doesn’t make sense, outside of the fact that he and Michael Jordan are both basketball players. The legendary tale of Dwight Howard rages on.
