Dwight Howard: Even If He Wins a Title, Superman Will Never Live the Summer Down

Regardless of whether center Dwight Howard walks into the 2012-13 NBA season in a new home or stuck in Orlando Magic purgatory, one thing is certain: He's the NBA's new most hated man.

That distinction used to belong to Miami Heat small forward LeBron James, whose "decision" to leave Cleveland in a nationally televised special left his reputation in tatters, with an inordinate amount of jerseys burned in effigy.

Hate for Howard won't ever go that high, but his opening-night jeers will likely be the closest thing we get to a James-esque hatred for a long, long time.

And that's unfortunate, because it never had to be this way.

Blessed with a game that could make men squeal with excitement and a face that could make women swoon, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard had all the makings of a marketing goldmine.

His performance at the 2008 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest—where Howard donned a Superman cape and threw down an alley-oop dunk from the free-throw line—introduced that baby-faced young man to the world.

That one brilliantly photogenic moment with Howard soaring toward the rim, seemingly making New Orleans his version of Metropolis, changed everything.

In that moment, Howard became Superman.

The sequel the following year—where D12 allowed "KryptoNate" Robinson to soar over the caped center—only further introduced the world to Howard's supposedly affable personality.

Couple that with the Magic's shocking run to the 2009 NBA Finals, and Howard was on top of the world.

First came the cover of EA Sports' NBA Live 10 video game. Then a McDonald's commercial with LeBron and Larry Bird. And, finally, a full appearance as Superman in an ESPN "This is SportsCenter" commercial.

By all accounts, 2010 was a banner year for Howard. He joined LeBron as the NBA's two most recognizable young stars. He won his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award, and his Magic only narrowly lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Unfortunately, that year was also the beginning of Howard's descent into the super villain we see today.

As Howard continued to grow as a player, both the center and his management team (understandably) grew tired of the Superman gimmick. Howard was one of the NBA's three best players. D12 was too good of a player, too dominant of a force to rely on such hare-brained tactics.

He wanted to be treated as a great player, not as some athletic sideshow.

Only one problem: Orlando's core around Howard had already become too old for championship contention. The 2010-11 Magic came in with championship expectations and left with a first-round playoff exit.

Stuck in Orlando without a gimmick or a shot at a championship, Howard's once-robust marketability seemingly started to spiral.

The Miami Heat's Big Three had also just rewritten the script on how to build a championship contender.

Knowing that the Magic's cap space was far too tied up to lure another superstar, that's when the switch went off for Howard.

And the rest, as they say, is the most frustratingly long and unnecessary saga in sports history.

We've all heard the story so many times at this point, that it's probably lodged in our cerebral cortex forever.

Howard went to Orlando management and requested a trade, preferably to the then-New Jersey Nets, before the 2011-12 season.

Rumors swirled, but the saga carried on into the regular season where Howard turned in the most disinterested 20-15 nightly performances since Wilt Chamberlain had alienated his teammates.

But this past regular season is as much Orlando's fault for not moving the center as it was Howard's for requesting the trade.

Waiving his early-termination option and dragging this saga into the summer is what will tarnish the former superhero's reputation forever.

Howard could have simply walked to Brooklyn and opened the Barclay's Center with Deron Williams this offseason without a peep. Instead, Howard chose to string along Magic fans, leaving the organization in an untenable situation once again by requesting a trade in the offseason.

Who is to blame for all of the false starts in trade negotiations and supersaturation of Howard rumors on websites? That's Dwight's fault.

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey throwing his whole roster overboard for a Godfather Howard offer? That's Dwight's fault.

The Los Angeles Lakers throwing their own star center Andrew Bynum under the trade rumor bus to make a run at Howard? That's Dwight's fault.

LeBron James' "decision" angered the NBA world, but it only screwed over one franchise—the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Howard's "indecision" has not only angered the NBA world, but has put at least five NBA franchises in positions ranging from untenable to completely screwed over.

And if you think once Howard finally finds a new franchise, says the right things and wins a couple of games that things will smooth over, you're wrong.

Not even an ascension to all-time greatness or an NBA championship this past season could absolve James in some eyes. According to a 2012 Forbes poll, LeBron is still the sixth most hated (data via the Miami New Times) athlete.

Expect Howard to usurp LeBron on that list in 2013.

Howard's actions have alienated the public, and he's done it in a torturous, waterboarding-like fashion. The public has now long forgotten the fan favorite, affable Howard; the one who came into the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest as Dwight Howard and left as Superman.

In his place is the NBA's new Lex Luthor; a man viewed as so evil that no matter his feats on the court, will never live down his decisions off of it.

And that's a shame, because none of this ever needed to happen.