Remember the 2004 NBA Draft? Man, that class was loaded. People still call it one of the best draft classes ever. We’re talking Andre Iguodala, Luol Deng, Josh Smith throwing down dunks like it was nothing, Dorell Wright, and a bunch more. But the name everyone really remembers is Dwight Howard. Number one pick, built like a tank, and a beast in the paint. Now, Dwight’s about to have his name hung up on that Hall of Fame wall, not once, but twice. And now, draftmate Dorell Wright stepped up with a heartfelt shout-out for Superman himself.
The Class of 2025 dropped on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, and Dwight Howard made the final cut. He not only earned a spot in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame but also secured a first-ballot induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. First ballot, man. That’s no joke. Nothing ever came easily to him. So every bit of respect he’s getting now? He earned it. From high school phenom to NBA superstar to now Hall of Famer, dude fought for everything. And now Dorell Wright gave him a shoutout and showed love like real ones do.
On a recent episode of The Why with Dwyane Wade podcast, Dorell Wright took us all the way back to 2004. Yep, draft night. He said, “I’m going with my 2004 draft class, E number one pick Dwight Howard. Shout out to Dwight. He’s one of the eight guys that came straight out of high school with me that year.” And then he reminded everybody what kind of monster Dwight was in his prime.
Apr 7, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) hangs on the rim after a dunk during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
“A lot of people try to erase the facts that he was one of the most dominant bigs in the league,” he said. And honestly? He’s not wrong. 8× NBA All-Star, 3× NBA Defensive Player of the Year, straight from 2009 to 11. Now you do the math. But there’s a twist, because if you remember, about 13 years ago, things sounded a little different.
Back in August 2012, when the Lakers traded Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard, Dorell wasn’t exactly Team Dwight. In fact, he straight-up called Bynum the best center in the league.“He’s gonna need two defenders to stop him; I would say he’s the best big man in the NBA right now, hands down,” Dorell claimed back then. Crazy how time (and a Hall of Fame induction) can change a narrative, right?
Dwight Howard seals his name in Hoop Lore as Hall of Fame induction locks his legacy in stone
At 39, Dwight remains one of the NBA’s most dominant big men from the late 2000s through the early 2010s. An eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Truly, nobody wanted to face him inside the paint.
Back then, centers were expected to bully opponents under the rim. And Dwight Howard made a living doing exactly that every single night. Crazy part? By the time the 2000s ended, Dwight was only 24, but his resume already spoke volumes about his dominance. He had a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, two All-NBA selections, and even dragged Orlando to the 2009 NBA Finals.
That Magic team wasn’t stacked with superstars. But Dwight’s leadership and physicality made them a problem for every Eastern Conference contender. Now, he’s a headliner in the 2025 Hall of Fame class alongside Carmelo Anthony and championship-winning coach Billy Donovan.
It’s a well-deserved honor for a player who spent years being underrated by fans and left off “top center” debates unfairly. In a one-on-one, Dwight said this moment feels less like a reward and more like planting a flag in forever. “It’s more like planted in the ground, plastered on the wall of forever,” Dwight told reporters after the big announcement.
He also opened up about playing the game with nothing but passion, love, and a genuine appreciation for every opportunity he got. For Dwight, it was never just about stats or trophies, it was about leaving a mark bigger than basketball itself.
“What I did for basketball and with basketball was all out of love,” he shared. “I played the game of pure passion and love. It means a lot at the end of my career to have this honor bestowed upon me. It’s one thing to chase greatness and it’s another to have history finally give you your flowers. And now, even the loudest doubters can’t deny it, Dwight Howard is officially basketball royalty, forever etched into hoop lore.
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