Hoops Habit
Fansided

Orlando Magic: 25 Best Players To Play For The Magic

By Phil Watson

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: A general view of Amway Center during the game between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center on December 11, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: A general view of Amway Center during the game between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center on December 11, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
26 of 26
Next
Basketball: Orlando Magic Dwight Howard (12) in action, shot vs Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah (13) at Amway Center. Orlando, FL 1/6/2012 CREDIT: Bill Frakes (Photo by Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X86716 TK1 R1 F7 )
Basketball: Orlando Magic Dwight Howard (12) in action, shot vs Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah (13) at Amway Center. Orlando, FL 1/6/2012 CREDIT: Bill Frakes (Photo by Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X86716 TK1 R1 F7 ) /

player. 38. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 1st overall pick from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, 2004 NBA Draft.. C-PF. 2004-12. Dwight Howard. 1

The Orlando Magic launched a new era with a new big man when they selected Dwight Howard from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy with the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Howard earned All-Rookie honors fresh out of high school and wound up being a six-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA selection, five-time All-Defensive pick and a three-time Defensive Player of the year while in Orlando.

ORL_01_HOWARD
ORL_01_HOWARD /

He was also fourth in the MVP voting in 2008-09, when the Magic reached the NBA Finals, and again in 2009-10, and was runner-up for the honor in 2010-11.

Howard led the NBA in rebounds six times and rebounds per game four times with Orlando, led the league in blocked shots and blocks per game twice, topped the NBA in field-goal percentage in 2009-10.

His 2011-12 season truncated by back surgery, Howard was traded along with forward Earl Clark and guard Chris Duhon in August 2012 to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a four-team extravaganza that brought the Magic swingman Arron Afflalo, big man Al Harrington, a second-round pick in 2013 and a 2014 first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets; forward Christian Eyenga, big man Josh McRoberts and a 2017 first-rounder from the Lakers; and forward Maurice Harkless, center Nikola Vucevic and a future first-round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers.

In eight seasons with Orlando, Howard averaged 18.4 points, 13 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.0 steal in 36.2 minutes per game, shooting .577/.030/.588.

After just one year with the Lakers, Howard signed a free-agent contract with the Houston Rockets in July 2013.

In 2015-16, Howard averaged 13.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.0 steal in 32.1 minutes on .620/0-for-6/.489 shooting before opting out of the final year of his contract.

On July 12, 2016, Howard signed a three-year, $70.5 million free-agent deal with the Atlanta Hawks that runs through 2018-19.

Next: The Greatest Player In Every Franchise's History

Howard is 27th in NBA history with 11,149 rebounds, 21st with 1,824 blocked shots, fifth with a .582field-goal percentage, 13th with 12.7 rebounds per game and 20th with 2.1 blocks per game.

Home/Orlando Magic