NBA Player Spotlight: Dwight Howard

    It may be that Dwight Howard's rendition of Superman at the Dunk Contest is the most memorable moment of the 2008 season.  However, it would be a mistake to overlook Dwight Howard's ascension to the NBA elite four years removed from high school.  He has single- handedly restored the legitimacy of the Orlando Magic as playoff contenders.

    In the 2004 NBA Draft, following the Magic's dismal 21-61 season, the ongoing debate was whether Dwight Howard or Emeka Okafor was going to be the number one pick.  Howard had more raw athleticism coming out of college while Okafor was more refined and established after spending four years at UConn.  There were many skeptics when the Orlando Magic selected Howard with the first overall pick.  In the '04-'05 season, those skeptics appeared to be right, as Okafor had a better statistical season than Howard and won Rookie of the Year.

     Fast forward to the '07-'08 season and all of the critics of the Magic picking Howard have been silenced.  Howard has improved every season and has remained injury-free.  Okafor on the other-hand has been plagued by injuries and his statistical output has been relatively stagnant.  Dwight Howard has been an All-Star for two years running while Okafor has yet to garner his first spot.

     Dwight Howard's enormous  6'-11" frame coupled with his massive vertical leap has allowed him to become the league's leading rebounder with 14.5 rpg.  His points per game have increased every year from 12.0 to 21.2.  Howard has averaged a ridiculous 29 ppg and 18.5 rpg against Tim Duncan, one of the greatest defensive big men of all time, and the San Antonio Spurs this season.

     Dwight Howard has progressed very far as an offensive player.  Howard is very active on put backs.  For the past two seasons he has lead the league in dunks.  In fact, at certain points of the season, Howard had dunked more times than certain teams had in total.  In the past year, Howard has demonstrated proficient use of the right hook shot and has been using it with strong results.  However, Howard is still shooting less than 60% from the free throw line and averaging more than 3 turnovers per game.

      Riding Dwight Howard's growth, the Orlando Magic have catapulted to the top of the Southeast Division and as of now, the third seed of the East Conference Playoffs.  Just 22 years old, there still is no foreseeable limiting to this man's upside and I guarantee that at the end of his NBA career, Howard will be remembered for much more than being Superman.