Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander Calls Dwight Howard a Top-3 NBA Star

Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander is a funny man. Sometimes even funnier than the NBA's residential harlequin himself, Dwight Howard.

Alexander recently called Howard his most important acquisition, per Fox 26's Mark Berman. He then said Superman is one of the top two or three players in the league.

If there were ever a moment for you to laugh so hard the chocolate milk you're drinking starts flowing out of your nose, it's now.

First, D12 isn't one of the three best players in the Association. He's not even in the top five. B/R's Adam Fromal has Howard penciled in at No. 11 in his latest player rankings ahead of Rajon Rondo and Tim Duncan, and that's fair. 

Debates that posit he's a top-10 talent are something that can at least be listened to. But entertaining the idea that Howard comes in at No. 3, right behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant, is laughable. Maintaining that he's just behind the King and in front of the Durantula is just plain asinine.

Many other players are more qualified for the No. 3 spot, and just ahead of him in general. Like Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony or teammate James Harden.

Which brings us to Alexander's next punchline—calling Howard his "most important acquisition."

Either Alexander was referring to this offseason, or he was talking about in recent memory. The former is pointless. Of course Howard was the most notable addition of this past summer. If not him, who? Ronnie Brewer? Reggie Williams?

Still, not even that would compare to Alexander speaking in the context of recent memory; Harden's arrival was far more important than Mr. Howard's. 

Completely ignoring that it was Harden who shifted the narrative of the entire franchise and led the Rockets to their first postseason berth in three years, we must remember Howard reportedly didn't even want to play for Houston in 2012. Ergo, without Harden, there is no Howard.

Superman is a great player, and by the end of 2013-14, perhaps he'll have a firm hold on a top-10 slot. Under no circumstance will a top-three ranking be looming over our heads.

Nor will he ever be more important than the one who started it all in Houston, James Harden.

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