Dwight Howard: How Does the Orlando Magic Star Compare to Shaquille O'Neal?

Shaq is a four-time NBA champion.

Dwight Howard has been to the NBA Finals just once.

Rather than compare an illustrious career spanning 20 seasons to one very good seven-year stretch, I've aimed to assess the performances of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard at the same stage in their careers.

Without further ado, here's how they stack up.

Immediate Impact

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16 Apr 1996: Center Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic moves the ball against the Washington Bullets during a game played at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. The Magic won the game, 113-95. Mandatory Credit: ALLSPORT USA /Allsport

Both Shaq and D-12 were highly regarded number one picks entering their rookie season.

While Howard started every game and returned a neat 12 point, 10 rebound average per game, O'Neal blew the league apart, dropping 23.4 points a game on his opponents, en route to the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Shaq even added 13.9 rebounds a game, which will remain a career high.

Winner: O'Neal (1-0)

Offense

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13 DEC 1995: ORLANDO SHAQUILLE O''NEAL WATCHES FROM THE SIDELINE DURING FIRST QUARTER OF THE MAGIC'S GAME VERSUS THE CHICAGO BULLS AT THE UNITED CENTER IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT

In just his third year in the league, Shaq claimed the scoring champion title.

In fact, rookie year aside, O'Neal didn't average under 26 points a game until his final year at the Lakers.

While Howard is the most potent offensive center in the game today, his scoring prowess isn't in the same ballpark as early Shaq.

Former Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson even designed a defensive strategy (Hack-a-Shaq) to try and curtail O'Neal's influence in the paint.

Defenses now readily send Howard to the free-throw line in the same vein.

Winner: O'Neal (2-0)

Defense

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ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 03: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic blocks the shot of Darko Milicic #31 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game at Amway Arena on November 3, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and ag

This one's a no-brainer.

Howard was recently named NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the third straight year.

He's soon to be named NBA All-Defensive First Team for the third time too.

Shaq has been named to the All-Defensive Second Team three times in his career but not once in his first seven years in the league.

Both are impenetrable presences in the paint, but Howard gets the nod here.

Winner: Howard (1-2)

Burden

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Oct 1993: Center Shaquille O''Neal of the Orlando Magic (left) ducks the ball after teammate guard Anfernee Hardaway slam dunks it during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Mandatory Credit: Mike Cooper /Allsport

Dwight Howard arrived as Tracy McGrady walked out the door.

It wasn't until the Magic added Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu to the mix that Orlando became a postseason threat.

Through seven years, Howard has had little quality help and carries the burden of central Florida on those enormous deltoids.

The Magic's recent struggles have been a case in point.

Shaq, however, played alongside a number of up-and-coming superstars in his first seven years in the league.

In just his third season he went to the NBA Finals paired with four-time All-Star Penny Hardaway.

After four years in Orlando, O'Neal moved to Los Angeles where he shared the weight of expectation with the freshly drafted Kobe Bryant.

Winner: Howard (2-2)

Championships

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BOSTON - MAY 22: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic sits on the bench dejected late in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs on May 22, 2010 in

Both Howard and O'Neal made one unsuccessful trip to the NBA Finals in their first seven years in the league.

While Shaq was quick to make up for lost time (he won championships in his eighth, ninth, 10th and 14th years in the league, respectively), Howard may find himself moving franchises in order to get his hands on his first title.

Winner: Draw (2-2)

Durability

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2 Feb 2001: Shaquille O''Neal #34 of the Los Angeles Lakers sits and watches the action while resting after an injury during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 93-87.

It's no secret that O'Neal has struggled with injuries his whole career.

His health first became a problem in his final year with the Magic, missing 28 games.

In fact, O'Neal missed 86 games through his first seven years in the league, Howard just seven.

I shudder to think how many games the Magic would have won, had Howard suffered the same injury setbacks as O'Neal in his early years.

Winner: Howard (3-2)

X-Factor

As big a presence as Shaq is on the court, he's even larger than life outside of it.

He's got more nicknames than P Diddy.

While Howard can go missing for sustained periods on the offensive end, O'Neal would literally catch it in the post and hammer into defenses until they had nothing left to give.

There simply wasn't a scarier sight in basketball than Shaq in his prime.

Watch the video, even Jordan was admiring.

Winner: O'Neal (3-3)

Recap

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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 17: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic smiles on the baseline as he waits for Shaquille O'Neal of the Boston Celtics to shoot a free throw on January 17, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User express

3-3.

That's it folks.

I can't split them.

Initially, I thought Shaq would walk this one in, but it seems today's "Superman" has flown just as high through his first seven years in the league.

While O'Neal has spent the past 13 seasons ensuring his enormous legacy in the game, we can only hope Howard has the chance to reach those same dizzying heights.

Perhaps, like Shaq, he'll have to first change teams in order to kick start his reign.

I wonder if Magic fans can imagine Dwight Howard, circa 2024, chasing his fifith ring with a sixth franchise?