Reflecting On Dwight Howard

The trade deadline hits at 3:00 PM Eastern today. While the Houston Rockets are looking to offload Dwight Howard and Ty Lawson as the next sacrificial lambs in a lost season, the rest of the NBA will continue to move forward. The basketball press will do the same. Unfortunately, the basketball press will do so with its same backwards mental gymnastics to justify longstanding narratives.

In an attempt to correct the record, I’m here. My disdain for the braying donkeys over at certain major outlets and the feverish amateurs at others is fairly notorious. My contempt for mindless narratives ignorant of context to drive bias is limitless. Even if Dwight is not traded today, a basic history lesson is in order.

Howard arrived in the NBA in 2004 as a high schooler from Atlanta. Drafted by the Magic, Howard played in Orlando until 2012. This time was marred by indecisiveness as to whether or not he would re-sign in Orlando and tension with Stan Van Gundy. It was around this time that the greatest knock on Howard was levied… He smiles and enjoys the game of basketball.

Yup… That’s about it. The guy likes the fact that he’s paid handsomely to play a game. Sure, critics also him and haw that he didn’t develop a mid-range game but critics also complained that Yao Ming wasn’t a banger. Most prominent critic, and braying mule, Shaquille O’Neal used to deride the lack of variety in these big men. Unfortunately, Shaq has also been quoted saying he was dominant with only two moves. Pot, kettle, kettle, pot.

Following the oddity that was 2012, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired the big man following back surgery. By all reports, Dwight rushed back to play for the Lakers in an attempt to quiet criticism about his commitment. What was the response to disregarding his health in order to contribute to a broken down Lakers team? The narrative quickly became Dwight’s lack of commitment and inability to get along with notorious egomaniac Kobe Bryant. After all, we’ve got a narrative to maintain and that’s Kobe’s “competitive fire,” not that he’s a prick who bilked his team out of 24 million dollars in legacy money to hamstring their cap while actively putting off potential free agents.

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By all measures, Howard’s free agency and transition to Houston was the model of what a superstar should do. Whereas LeBron James spent the year prior baiting multiple suitors before ultimately insulting the entire city of Cleveland on live television – while using charity and children as the shield for the amount of feces that subsequently hit the fan – Howard calmly and quietly met with suitors, flew to Los Angeles to inform his previous employer of his decision, and signed on the first day of free agency with the Rockets.

Still, Howard was plagued with media calling him immature. Lakers fans quickly photoshopped out all the billboards that adorned Los Angeles pleading with the beleaguered big man to stay. After all, the media must appease the big money maker market in Los Angeles, a Gulf Coast city shouldn’t be more attractive, right?

Since arriving in Houston, Dwight has been a beast. Sure, his first year totals of 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks with a 21 PER haven’t been replicated, but Howard has maintained dominance.

Last year, Howard missed half the season with various injury issues. Startlingly enough, through all of that, the combination of Howard and Josh Smith gave the Rockets everything they needed to defeat the Clippers and reach the Western Conference finals. Howard’s ability to punish the Clippers’ big men and his chemistry with lifelong friend Smith led an attack that even the league’s rightful MVP (James Harden) was unable to get going.

That, unfortunately brings us to this year. The season is a wash. James Harden came into camp overweight and unmotivated. The entire team’s general PER and stats saw a distinct downtrend (Exception for Clint Capela) and Kevin McHale found himself looking for work. Lost in the cacophony of all of this, Howard quietly put together 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game with a 20 PER. On a team where everyone regressed, Howard bounced back through the adversity and was one of the only Rockets to even feign effort on the defensive side of the ball. What’s the reward for all of this?

The national media accuses Dwight Howard of being a chemistry issue. His front office is seeking to ship him out for any return to soothe some burning need to feel vindication. Oddly enough, the voice usually wooed by the hysteria, that of the fans is actually bemoaning this panic reaction. The fans actually see that Howard has been the model of consistency and a major reason for the Rockets success since 2013. Without Howard, the Rockets don’t get to the Western Conference Finals. Without Howard, the Rockets don’t break their long string of failing to lure a big name free agent to Houston.

For all the whining that major national outlets do about Dwight, they forget the situation he found in Houston. An affable, happy, coachable big man came to a city coached by an affable, happy big man on a team full of affable happy people. It wasn’t just a basketball team it was a family; it was exactly what Howard needed. Unfortunately, that family fractured in the offseason. Like many broken homes, someone is going to get real hurt in the process of watching it fall apart. Kevin McHale was the first, Dwight seems to be the second. If rumors hold true, Ty Lawson might beat Dwight out the door as well.

A Deadline Dirge For Dwight Howard

By Brandon Davis | Feb 18, 2016

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