NBA: The best rebounder of all time from every NBA team

Best rebounder in Orlando Magic history: Dwight Howard

Because of his antics and since he has played on five teams since leaving the Orlando Magic, it’s easy to forget how much of a difference-maker Dwight Howard was on both ends of the floor. Go back and find any vintage Howard clip on YouTube and you will see why he was considered the best center in the league for the better part of a decade.

While Howard wasn’t — and still isn’t — a refined post player, he often used his size, strength and athleticism to bully people on the block, send shots into the bleachers and gobble up rebounds. The former first overall pick has never averaged fewer than 10 rebounds per game in his career so far. However, he was particularly proficient at cleaning the glass in his eight seasons with the Magic.

During his time in Orlando, Howard led the league in rebounding four times and never ranked lower than eighth. In terms of all-time Magic rankings, he is first in all the cumulative rebounding lists and he holds the all-time pole position for rebounds per game.

His presence on the floor was felt almost immediately, as the Magic became a perennial playoff team from his third season until his departure. That run peaked in the 2008-09 season when Howard and bevy of 3-point shooters led the Magic to their second NBA Finals appearance.

You can criticize Howard for a number of things. For his insistence to be fed the ball in the post despite having almost no post moves, getting coaches fired, being a terrible free throw shooter, etc. Despite his quirks, Howard’s time with the Magic should be looked at as a net positive, especially when you look at the rebounding numbers he put up.