Dwight Howard Fulfills Goal, Awarded Defensive Player of the Year

ORLANDO, FLA--At 10:30 AM EDT the Orlando Sentinel reported that Dwight Howard was named the NBA's 2008-2009 defensive player of the year.

At just 23 years, 128 days old, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic has become the youngest player ever to win this prestigious award.

Howard's goal at the beginning of training camp this season was to lead the league in blocked shots and rebounding, and to be the eventual defensive player of the year.

Howard made good on his vow by averaging 13.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, becoming only the fifth player all-time to lead the league in both of those categories in a season (Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Ben Wallace).

"To be the defensive player of the year at 23 is remarkable," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.

"To be a great defensive player usually comes later in a career. And he still has so much room for improvement."

Howard received 105 first-place votes for the award out of a panel of 119. Dwight received 542 points, overall. LeBron James of Cleveland was second with 148 points, followed by Miami's Dwyane Wade at third place with 90 points.

"I just wanted to be more of a defensive presence this season," Howard said.

"Patrick (Ewing) just stayed on me all summer. It's something I wanted to do."

This award was only some of the icing on the cake that tops off an astonishing year for Orlando's big man. The cake would more than likely be cooked and finished if Dwight could lead the Magic to their first ever NBA championship.

The Magic look to make that happen as they attempt to turn things around in their first-round playoff series with the 76ers Wednesday night.