In sports, players often have strong opinions about themselves and their skills. Recently, Dwight Howard, a former player for the Los Angeles Lakers, spoke out about his abilities. Howard claims he is better than Patrick Ewing, the famous New York Knicks player regarded as one of the greatest centers in basketball history.
Nick Young previously posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Kevin Garnett is like the “Kobe Bryant” to Tim Duncan’s “Michael Jordan.” This means that some people don’t want to admit that Garnett might be better than Duncan, who has a more solid legacy.
Dwight Howard shared Young’s post and added his own thoughts, saying he might be the “Kobe” to Pat Ewing’s “Jordan.” Howard stated, “Aye Nick I might be the Kobe to Pat Ewing MJ people scared to say I was better.” This suggests that Howard views himself as a modern version of Ewing and believes his career deserves the same respect.
Supporters of Dwight Howard highlight his defensive skills, evidenced by his three Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) awards and his ranking as 13th on the all-time blocks list with 2,228 blocks. They also mention his role in taking the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals and helping the Los Angeles Lakers win a championship.
However, some people disagree as they believe Ewing had a more polished offensive game and played during a tougher time. Ewing averaged 21.0 points and 2.4 blocks per game throughout his career and earned All-Star selections 11 times, showing his consistent excellence.
Also Read: Dwight Howard Gives A Stern Response To Fan Comparing Him To Charles Barkley
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How Do Dwight Howard And Patrick Ewing Compare To Each Other?
Dwight Howard
Howard had a successful 18-season NBA career, playing for seven different teams. People especially recognize him for his time with the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers. Over his career, he averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in 1,242 regular-season games. Fans recognized him for his strong defense, as he won three DPOY awards and one NBA championship with the Lakers.
During his best years with the Magic, Dwight Howard was impressive, averaging 18.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals, although they lost to the Lakers. Howard also played a key role on the championship-winning Lakers, providing important defense and rebounding alongside Anthony Davis. Despite these successes, the NBA left him off the Top 75 list in 2021, leading him to blame politics.
Patrick Ewing
Many regard Ewing as one of the greatest centers in NBA history. He played for 17 seasons, mainly with the New York Knicks, and had short stints with the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic. Ewing averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game over 1,183 regular-season games. He was an 11-time All-Star, won Rookie of the Year, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.
Ewing significantly impacted the Knicks and the NBA, helping to bring the Knicks back to prominence during the late 80s and early 90s. He led the Knicks to two NBA Finals and was often discussed as a potential MVP during his best years. The Knicks retired his number 33, solidifying his legacy with the team.