Shams: Dwight Howard Elected as First Ballot Member of the 2025 Hall of Fame Class

[KGtabake]

Remember.
Before Jokic, Dwight was the best big the league had seen in the post Shaq era.
That's a span of almost 13-14 seasons that a big of this caliber hadn't emerged.
One of the best bigs ever.
Travesty that he wasn't selected in the Top75 all time.
Well deserved.

PS. He could still play today. One of the best athletes and he was blackballed for non basketball reasons.

[maverick_41]

Shams has absolutely nailed this one.

Amazing job!

[FarBeyondDriven]

1st ballot but didn't make top 75?


Something fishy going on here...

There are 238 players in the hall of fame, they can't all make top 75

Yeah but having Bill Walton, Anthony Davis, Ray Allen, and Carmelo Anthony on that list over him is a complete joke. There are a bunch more you could have Dwight over also, but those stick out badly.

Bill Walton won an MVP and led a team to a title in the NBA, that's fantastic...but that was like a 2 year stretch of greatness, that was already mired by injury, and then he went on to do absolutely nothing of note in the NBA other than play as a 6th man for another title winning team. I understand the guy was a college legend, he was incredible at his peak, and he was beloved as a color commentator, and so his overall contributions to basketball are amazing, but as far as his NBA career? He doesn't touch Dwight.

Ray Allen, Anthony Davis, Carmelo? What did these guys do as the #1 option compared to Dwight? Were they ever the MVP candidate that Dwight was in his prime?

you're grossly underrepresenting Bill Walton's career. He put the expansion Blazers on the map and led them to their only title in his 4th season btw winning MVP and first team all defense. Not sure where you're getting "2 year stretch" from. He got injured and dealt with pain and injury for several more very good seasons with the Clippers starting and playing when he could but at a very high level still. Taking a lesser role with the Celtics, embracing it, and winning 6MOY despite still being a starter caliber player shows character. He was an integral part of that championship Celtics team too.

Despite his injuries he managed a 10 year career. His career 13-11-3 with 2 blocks actually compares very favorably to Dwight's 16/12/1 with 2 blocks. Bill has an MVP and he finished 2nd the year before which matches Dwight's best finish. So yeah, two rings, an MVP, a 6MOY while plagued by injuries and in constant pain is nothing to scoff at. He's a very deserving top 75 player.

yes, Melo and AD were considered MVP candidates in their primes like Dwitght. Ray Allen wasn't but he is considered one of the greatest shooters of all time and has multiple rings including on two different franchises.