Dwight Howard pens emotional submit after Magic HOF induction

Monday was a big day for Orlando Magic and their previous star heart, Dwight Howard. Greater than a decade after his departure, the Magic honored Howard by instilling him of their status temple earlier than their match towards the Los Angeles Lakers, one other workforce for which he performed. The all-star eight emotional occasions, extensively thought of the best participant within the historical past of the franchise, additionally shared his reflections on X (previously Twitter).

“These tears right now have been tears of pleasure. Tears for this 10 -year -old who mentioned he was going to be the n ° 1 selection of the NBA restoration! Tears for the 18 -year -old child who made the keys to a franchise and a metropolis. Tears for the ups and downs on this lengthy journey that I had within the NBA. Every little thing is available in a circle and I wish to thank the magic once more to indencing me within the NBA. Orlando Magic HOF, ” mentioned the brand new member from the Magic Corridor of Fame.

Dwight Howard’s time with magic

Howard turned the thirteenth participant to be registered within the Orlando Magic famend temple. Recovered for the primary time within the basic classification in 2004, he spent eight seasons with the workforce from 2004 to 2012. Greater than 621 common seasonal appearances – beginning all besides one – he collected on common 18.4 factors, 13.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.16 blocks and 1.01 interceptions per recreation. Recording 36.2 minutes per evening, it maintained a powerful taking pictures effectivity of 57.7% (4,034-6 988) on the bottom.

The previous magic celebrity additionally performed a key position within the post-season success of Orlando, beginning the 57 of its appearances within the playoffs with the workforce. He posted averages of 19.9 factors, 14.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and a pair of.77 blocks over 39.4 minutes per match, drawing a workforce of 60.0% (393-655) on the sphere. His domination in portray helped to propel the magic of the 2009 NBA finals and a return to the finals of the Japanese Convention in 2010.

Howard stays the chief of all time of Orlando Magic in a number of classes, together with factors (11,435), rebounds (8,072), blocks (1,344), free throws made (3,366), makes an attempt to throw franc (5,727) and minutes performed (22,471).

Whereas Shaquille O’Neal left Orlando and gained a number of championships with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, Howard’s profession took a unique route, whereas he was transferring from workforce to workforce within the years that adopted. Satirically, he obtained a championship in Orlando – however not with magic. As an alternative, he performed a supporting position for the Lakers through the Disney bubble induced by the NBA, successful his solely title.

Howard’s profession after magic

For essentially the most half, nevertheless, Howard turned a companion, going from the franchise to the franchise. On the top of his profession, he pushed magic to alternate it as a part of an enormous settlement of 4 groups in August 2012. The transfer despatched Howard aux LakersHowever his keep in Los Angeles shortly happened. The clashes with Kobe Bryant have outlined his solely season there, main him to go to a free company and signal a profitable contract with the Houston Rockets the next 12 months.

His keep in Houston ended with out a lot fanfare, and he shortly went to an actor, grabbing the alternatives wherever they got here. Throughout his final 10 NBA seasons, he has performed for six totally different groups in eight occasions earlier than ending his profession overseas.

Dwight Howard expressed his deep hyperlink with magic throughout his induction speech. “It is my home,” he mentioned. “It’s going to all the time be, without end my home. You’ll all the time be my household, I’ll love you without end. Thanks once more for this second. Thanks for permitting me to be a part of the historical past of Orlando’s magic.