{"id":34354,"date":"2020-10-21T08:00:52","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T12:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=34354"},"modified":"2020-10-20T22:06:14","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T02:06:14","slug":"dwight-howard-first-time-nba-champion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2020\/10\/21\/dwight-howard-first-time-nba-champion\/","title":{"rendered":"Dwight Howard: First-Time NBA Champion"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s taken 15 enduring seasons in the NBA, but Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> center Dwight Howard<\/strong><\/a> has won his first-ever NBA championship. Other than a few names, Howard may be the most-deserving Laker to raise this year\u2019s championship trophy. Check out this look at Howard\u2019s illustrious career, a hall of fame worthy career that added NBA champion to its resume.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dwight Howard Wins Coveted First Ring\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Dwight Howard: The Double-Double Machine\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

From the very first season that Howard stepped foot on an NBA court, his play was synonymous with several player molds. The most fitting, perhaps, is \u201cdouble-double machine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dwight Howard averaged a double-double in points and rebounds in each of his first 14 seasons. An uber-athletic big-bodied center, Howard had an impeccable radar for bringing down boards. In multiple seasons during the late \u201900s, Howard averaged nearly 15 rebounds and 20-plus points per game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He spent his first eight seasons with the Orlando Magic<\/a>, propelling Orlando to an NBA Finals appearance in 2009. Magic fans fondly remember the devastating pick-and-roll game of Jameer Nelson<\/a><\/strong> and Howard, which resulted in thunderous alley-oop after thunderous alley-oop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/OPPMagicBlog\/status\/1240052427094740993<\/p>\n

Standing at 6-foot-10 and weighing 265 pounds, Howard\u2019s athleticism allowed him to soar above nearly every big-man in the NBA during his prime. Of course, this checks Howard\u2019s box as an elite \u201clob-threat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not proper to tell the story of Howard\u2019s career without mentioning his theatrics in the NBA Dunk Contest. \u201cSuperman\u201d earned invites to participate in four dunk contests and brought home the trophy in 2008.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Flashback to @DwightHoward<\/a>\u2019s previous Dunk Contests in 2007, 2008 and 2009 before he participates in this year\u2019s #ATTSlamDunk<\/a>! #StateFarmSaturday<\/a> (2\/15) coverage begins at 8pm\/et on TNT. pic.twitter.com\/mGKskusQ8R<\/a><\/p>\n

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) February 13, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n