Dwight Howard to enter Basketball Hall of Fame as first-ballot inductee

Dwight Howard is not only getting into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, but he’ll be doing it as a first-ballot inductee.Howard will officially be announced as a member of the 2025 class on Saturday during the men’s college basketball Final Four, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Saturday night.The news comes days after it was reported that former Knicks star Carmelo Anthony will be inducted this year.Howard, drafted first overall by the Magic in 2004 NBA Draft, lived up to the hype as a top pick with eight All-Star nods, eight All-NBA selections and three Defensive Player of the Year wins — one of only four players to take the award that many times.

He also memorably won the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest while wearing a Superman cape to honor his nickname.Five times during his career, Howard led the NBA in rebounding average.His 14,627 career rebounds rank 10th in NBA history and 11th when ABA players are factored in.In 1,242 games, the big man averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.Howard spent the first eight years with the Magic before stints with the Lakers, Rockets, Hornets, Hawks, 76ers and Wizards.

In 2019-20, he helped the Lakers win the NBA Finals, his first and only title in the league.He finished ninth in the Sixth Man of the Year voting that season.Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season with the Lakers....