Dwight Howard Opens Up On Being Left Out Of NBA's 75th Anniversary Team
Sep 9, 2025
Four years ago, fans were abuzz with the exclusion of Dwight Howard from the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. This past weekend, Howard opened on his true feelings right before he received one of the biggest honors of his basketball career.
Prior to the 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony, Howard joined NBA TV's special coverage to take a look back at his days as an NBA superstar. When reporter Jared Greenberg asked if the eight-time All-Star would gain "a sense of closure" on that night, Howard didn't hesitate to show some vulnerability.
"The 75 [anniversary team], yes. It hurt," he told Greenberg. "It was like a big slap in the face to not be on that team."
The usually jovial Howard then offered the perspective that allowed him to capture the full magnitude of his career.
"The great part about it is, I'm going in two times," he pointed out. "To go in the Hall of Fame, not only for my contributions for myself but also to help Team USA win a gold medal...it's like God said, I'mma double-pound you with a blessing."
Though Howard won just one championship in the NBA (and, it should be noted, as a role player in the tail end of his career), hardly anyone among his peers matched the impact he made on the defensive end. A three-time winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award, Howard staked his claim as one of the best stoppers of his generation while also contributing significantly in the scoring department.
Just as his star was on the rise in the NBA, Howard joined the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony as he suited up for the "Redeem Team" at the 2008 Olympics. Averaging 12.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in that tournament, Howard helped Team USA achieve redemption by once again pulling off a gold medal finish.
For good measure, Howard was also able to cap off his reconciliation with longtime nemesis Shaquille O'Neal at the Hall of Fame ceremony. After years of unpleasant verbal exchanges, O'Neal shared the stage with Howard as the 2025 Hall of Fame inductee soaked in the adulation of the hoops community.
