At the height of his career, Dwight Howard was right up there with other NBA greats like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Even though the eight-time NBA All-Star hasn’t been quite as dominant on the court as he once was, his legacy lives on in the hearts of basketball fans. Howard has recently evoked nostalgia by posting an Instagram photo of the 2009–10 All-NBA First Team. There were some of the league’s all-time greats playing in this starting lineup.
Dwyane Wade’s response is what makes this post interesting. Recent 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Wade gave his full support to the impressive roster that includes himself and other luminaries. What makes this even more interesting is that just 81 days prior, Wade had publicly backed Howard’s selection to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. Wade’s support for Howard is a testament to the former NBA star’s influence and success, despite any perception to the contrary.
Dwayne Wade reacts to Dwight Howard post
The 2009–10 All-NBA First Team was loaded with some of the league’s best players at the time. Included on this hallowed roster were future NBA champions Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Durant. Howard was the defending MVP, while LeBron was the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Kobe Bryant, the most valuable player of the NBA Finals, was also a part of this legendary team.
In an Instagram post, Dwight Howard reflected on the past by sharing an article with the remark, “The 2009-10 All-NBA First Team is the most loaded ever.” The former Los Angeles Lakers player captioned his post saying, “I agree… changed the game.” Wade, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023, answered with, “Some bad boyz,” followed by a fire emoji. The incredible skill and influence of these athletes were further highlighted when he shared the post on his Instagram story. Ironically enough, despite their mutual respect LeBron James was absent from Dwayne Wade’s HOF induction.
Howard’s NBA resume
Throughout his 18 years in the NBA, Dwight Howard played for seven different franchises and made an everlasting impression on the league. Over the course of 1,242 regular season games, he recorded an average of 15.7 pts and 11.8 rebs per contest. Howard’s domination was validated by his selection to eight All-Star games, while his defensive brilliance was unrivaled by his three wins of the Defensive Player of the Year award.
For Howard, winning an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers was a turning point in his professional basketball career. There will always be a lasting memory of him as one of the league’s most powerful centers, and his contributions to the game go far beyond his individual achievements.