Say what you want about him, but Dwight Howard is undoubtedly a basketball Hall of Famer.
He’s an eight time All-Star who spent most of his early career as the very best defensive player in the NBA – until has back gave out on him. From 2009 to 2011, he won three Defensive Player of the Year awards consecutively.
He’s the only player in NBA history to ever do that. By the way, he also led his team to the NBA Finals in 2009.
So when comparing someone to Dwight Howard, they have to hit that bar. It’s a very high bar to hit. And, no offense to Paul George, he hasn’t done that quite yet.
Stephen A. Smith didn’t quite get that memo. On Thursday’s episode of First Take, the ESPN star said Paul George was getting close to becoming the “second coming of Dwight Howard.” Which, honestly, ain’t that bad.
This is a bad comparison. But Stephen A. went for it anyway.
"Paul George is in danger of becoming the second-coming of Dwight Howard."
—@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/VnTfJCtZUN
— First Take (@FirstTake) September 17, 2020
“Remember Dwight Howard was the man in Orlando just like Paul George was the man in Indiana. He wanted to leave. He goes to LA, ends up going to Houston and then before long he’s a journeyman… because the star that he once was he was no more.”
I guess, Stephen A. Sure. It makes sense on the surface.
But it doesn’t take much googling to see how great Dwight Howard was in Orlando and what he accomplished there. Paul George is a great player, too! But he can’t match Howard’s legacy. He’s never been to the Finals. He’s never been a defensive player of the year. He’s never quite been that good.
The internet promptly roasted Stephen A. for this take.
Extremely disrespectful to Dwight https://t.co/xwDnb7SBzl
— Trill Withers (@TylerIAm) September 17, 2020
I mean… most players hope to be Dwight Howard.
16 years
5 time 1st team All-NBA
3-time DPOY
Also, Howard has been to an NBA Finals.So… Maybe that's a good thing for George to set a goal for. https://t.co/YkVrGrBWrn
— Oklahoma City Thunder Digest © (@ThunderDigest) September 17, 2020
Prime Dwight Howard beat Lebron in the EC Finals and lead a team to the finals. Has 3 DPOY Awards. Injuries derailed his career. We all know this. https://t.co/Ey4HljpOsx
— Carrington (@Carrington_901) September 17, 2020
In danger? Paul George has a long way to go to get compared to Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard was the best player on a Finals team. https://t.co/1EMLwPpe66
— Drunk Sixers Fan (@DrunkSixersFan) September 17, 2020
George isn’t as bad as people are saying he is. He’s still one of the best players in the NBA despite failing to make the Finals this go round.
But he’s also not on the level Dwight Howard once was — no matter what we think of him now.
