B/R Interview: Dwight Howard Determined To Be The Best Center In NBA History!
Dwight Howard is a beast of a player when he's on the court, but it's when he's off it that his true colors shine through.
During our interview with him in Chicago, where Howard was on hand to coach a team for Gatorade's REPLAY series, we got to see a different side to him. Turns out that the guy who dunks on other players left and right with ferocious intensity is also a fun loving joker.
From the pregame warm-ups to the post game news conference, Howard was constantly seen sporting a smile and cracking a joke or two.
The best had to be his Charles Barkley impersonation, which Howard has got down pact. He was walking around messing with Dwyane Wade and saying how his team was "Teh-ruh-ble".
This is the kind of person he is. As intimidating and uninviting as he may appear when sporting an Orlando Magic jersey, Howard is actually the exact opposite when he's not in game mode.
The guy truly is a real life Super-Man. He has the whole alter ego and personality thing going for him. On the court he's an all business superhero, off it he's a humble Clark Kent like goof.
But don't mistake his kindness for weakness. Howard knows full well what he wants to achieve and he's dead set on not letting anything deter him from it.
When asked where he ranks himself all time when it comes to NBA "Big Men", Howard said " I want to be the greatest ever. If I keep working at it, I can get there."
In order to do so Howard will have to work on his offensive game so that it can be as dominating as he is on defense and on the boards.
We asked him if he thinks that incorporating a "sky hook" would add more fire power to his arsenal. Howard laughed at the suggestion and said " It's hard. Kareem did it and I used to try it but it never worked for me, so I'm just going to stick to my game."
Limited offense and all, Howard is still the most imposing center in the league today. He has shoulders which look as if they could balance a cruise ship. Add to that his freakish athletic ability and you see why he is so special on the court.
Still Howard understands that to get into the conversation of best centers ever he will have to take his game and team to another level.
So then who does Howard consider to be the greatest center of all time?
"Bill Russell is probably the greatest. Wilt Chamberlain is my favorite and you have to put Shaq in there.", Howard said.
With the FIBA world championships going on, we also took the time to ask him if he planned on playing in the 2012 Olympics.
"I'm happy with the gold medal I got. I would never go back to China" Howard said with a smile.
We then asked if he'd ever been to London, England where the 2012 Olympics are set to be held.
"I've never been there so I may have to consider it."
One can understand if Howard has plans for something more than another Olympic medal. After all this is a player who already got to the cusp of winning an NBA championship only to be denied by Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
If and when Howard wins his first title that set back along with all the hard work he's put in will only make the champagne taste that much sweeter.
Orlando may have to add one more star player to help get Super-Man over the hump, but if they don't, well then he could always just take his talents to South Beach for a year or two. That would enable him to get that ring while playing alongside his good friend D-Wade and the rest of the constellation of stars that have been amassed in Miami.
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