It’s been a long time since Dwight Howard was a real contender for the NBA’s MVP award.
Since Howard finished second in MVP voting to Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose in 2011, Howard received .01 percent of the voting points in 2012 and zero votes in 2013 and 2014.
But it’s time to start thinking about Superman in the MVP conversation again.
The back issues that significantly hindered Howard’s performance during the 2012-13 season and still appeared to limit his mobility and athleticism last season appear to be in the past.
Howard is moving very well this season and, more importantly, dominating on both sides of the ball. He is averaging an impressive 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and has a 24.1 PER, good for 12 in the NBA.
Howard has been outstanding offensively. For a guy that’s received criticisms for having a limited offensive game, Howard has been doing an awful lot of damage in post-ups and pick-and-roll situations.
James Harden might be the Rockets’ No. 1 offensive option, but Howard still plays a critical role in one of the league’s best offenses. That extends past just the instances in which Howard himself scores. The center’s presence demands significant attention and that helps open up the floor for his teammates.
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The Rockets score an astounding 117.3 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor compared to 102.7 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the bench, according to 82games.
Still, Howard’s biggest impact comes on the defensive end.
Howard’s the type of a defender that can truly transform a defense, and it shows in the fact that Rockets have allowed the fewest points per possession this season, according to Basketball Reference.
His elite defensive instincts combined with his mobility back to being full strength have allowed Howard to again become the league’s top rim-protector. His abilities to block/affect shots and even scare opponents away from attacking the basket because of his defensive talent are truly special.
The Rockets allow just 92.7 points per 100 possessions when Howard’s on the court compared to 107.1 points when he’s off the court. Again, we’re talking about value here, and Howard clearly has it for his team.
Combining offense and defense, the Rockets are a remarkable 29 points better per 100 possessions when Howard is playing compared to when he’s not.
Sure, we’re early in the season and Houston has had an extremely soft schedule to start the year. Metrics like the one above won’t continue as impressive as the season progresses.
But Howard’s start is anything but a fluke.
He looks fresher and healthier than he has in years and it’s showing in his play. This is a guy that’s going to average around 20 points and 10 rebounds while playing perhaps the best defense in the league all season.
What could hold Howard back from the MVP award isn’t too difficult to figure out. One generally has to be on an elite team to win an MVP award. While the Rockets are 8-1, it won’t be easy for them to remain in a top-two spot in the Western Conference standings once their schedule gets more difficult and teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs find their form.
Also, LeBron James is still alive and if he’s able to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference while playing at his normal level of insanely good basketball, he’s the obvious favorite.
But make no mistake: Howard is now firmly among the handful of players in contention, which is a lot better than where he’s been for the past few years.