Dwight Howard Thanks Stan Van Gundy During Hall of Fame Induction
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Dwight Howard entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday night and used part of his acceptance speech to recognize the coach who oversaw his breakthrough years with the Orlando Magic.
“Because of you, I am in the Hall of Fame,” Howard said, addressing former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. “As I’ve said before, there is no Dwight Howard without Stan Van Gundy. You taught me what it means to stay ready.”
Van Gundy guided Howard in Orlando from 2007-12, a span that included two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and a berth in the 2009 NBA Finals.
Howard, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, remains the Magic’s career leader in points (11,435), rebounds (8,072), blocked shots (1,344), free throws made (3,366) and minutes played (22,471). He also ranks near the top of the franchise list in games played (621), steals (626) and field goals made (4,034).
The 38-year-old center thanked his 2009 teammates by name, calling the postseason run to the Finals “a magical run.”
Howard was selected to six consecutive All-Star Games from 2007 through 2012 and led all vote-getters in both 2009 and 2012. He earned NBA Player of the Month honors six times and Player of the Week honors 18 times, both Magic records.
Career Snapshot
NBA championships: 1 (Los Angeles Lakers, 2020)
All-Star selections: 8
Defensive Player of the Year awards: 3 (2009-2011)
All-NBA teams: 8
Career averages: 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks in 1,242 games
Howard closed his remarks by calling the Hall of Fame nod the ultimate validation of a career built on interior dominance—and the coaching that helped bring it out.
Source: Hoops Wire
