Dwight Howard's Success and Achievements in Timeline
A closer look at the biggest achievements of Dwight Howard. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.
Dwight Howard is a celebrated American professional basketball player, known as "Superman" for his athleticism. His career highlights include an NBA championship, eight All-Star selections, eight All-NBA Team recognitions, five All-Defensive Team selections, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards, marking him as one of the dominant centers of his era.
1962: Chamberlain's Free Throw Record
In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA regular-season record of 34 free throw attempts, which Dwight Howard broke in 2012.
2004: High School Awards
In 2004, Dwight Howard received several awards including the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award, the Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Year Award, Gatorade National Player of the Year, and the McDonald's National High School Player of the Year honor.
2004: Drafted First Overall by Orlando Magic
In 2004, Dwight Howard was drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic after forgoing college.
November 15, 2005: Youngest 20/20 Player
On November 15, 2005, Dwight Howard became the youngest player ever to score 20 or more points and gather 20 or more rebounds in the same game.
2005: Selected to All-Rookie Team
In 2005, Dwight Howard was unanimously selected to the NBA All-Rookie Team after averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds in his rookie season.
March 5, 2006: Named to USA Basketball Team
On March 5, 2006, Howard was named to the 2006–2008 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program.
2006: Sophomore Team Selection
In 2006, Dwight Howard was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the 2006 Rookie Challenge during the All-Star break.
February 1, 2007: First NBA All-Star Selection
On February 1, 2007, Dwight Howard received his first NBA All-Star selection as a reserve on the Eastern Conference squad.
December 2007: Declared Most Dominant Center
In December 2007, ESPN writer David Thorpe declared Dwight Howard the most dominant center in the NBA, acknowledging his skills and impact on the court.
February 16, 2008: NBA Slam Dunk Contest Winner
On February 16, 2008, Dwight Howard won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
June 23, 2008: Named to Olympic Team
On June 23, 2008, Howard was named to the 12-man squad representing the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
2008: League Leader in Blocks Per Game
During the 2008-09 season, Dwight Howard began leading the league in blocks per game.
November 2009: Jefferson Awards Finalist
In November 2009, Dwight Howard was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, recognizing his charitable work and contributions.
2009: Defensive Player of the Year Award
In 2009, Dwight Howard became the youngest player ever to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
2009: Led Magic to NBA Finals
In 2009, Dwight Howard led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals.
2009: Praised by Andre Iguodala
In 2009, after an NBA Playoffs game, Andre Iguodala praised Howard's defensive abilities, stating he could guard two players at once, highlighting Howard's exceptional athleticism.
January 21, 2010: All-Star Game Selection
On January 21, 2010, Dwight Howard was named as the starting center for the East in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.
2010: Led League in Double-Doubles
During the 2010-11 season, Dwight Howard became the first player in league history to win Defensive Player of the Year honors for three consecutive seasons.
2011: Playoff Career Highs
In 2011, Dwight Howard had a playoff career-high 46 points and 19 rebounds in Orlando's 103-93 loss to Atlanta in Game 1.
January 12, 2012: Free Throw Record
On January 12, 2012, Dwight Howard attempted an NBA regular season record 39 free throws against the Golden State Warriors.
January 24, 2012: Magic's All-Time Scoring Leader
On January 24, 2012, Dwight Howard became the Orlando Magic's all-time scoring leader.
January 31, 2012: Honored as McDonald's All-American
On January 31, 2012, Dwight Howard was honored as one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans.
2014: Knee Injury and Division Title
In 2014, Howard missed games due to a strained right knee, later recording his 10,000th career rebound upon returning and the Rockets clinched their first division title in over 20 years.
November 4, 2015: Perfect Shooting Night
On November 4, 2015, Howard scored 23 points and had 14 rebounds against the Orlando Magic, shooting 10-of-10 and becoming the first Rocket since Yao Ming in 2009 to achieve such a feat.
January 18, 2016: Career High Rebounds Tied
On January 18, 2016, Howard had 36 points and tied a career high with 26 rebounds in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, marking his 10th straight double-double.
January 13, 2020: Season-High Performance
On January 13, 2020, Howard scored a season-high 21 points and got 15 rebounds in a game with the Lakers.
2020: NBA Champion
In 2020, Dwight Howard won an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
February 2023: T1 League All-Star
In February 2023, Howard was named an All-Star for the T1 League, was named the All-Star Game Most Famous Player, and participated in the Three-Point Contest.
May 10, 2023: T1 League All-Defensive First Team Selection
On May 10, 2023, Dwight Howard was selected to the T1 League All-Defensive First Team for the 2022–23 season.
August 2024: Lawsuit Dismissed
In August 2024, the lawsuit against Dwight Howard for assault, battery, and emotional distress was dismissed with prejudice.
