Shams: Dwight Howard Elected First Ballot to 2025 Hall of Fame Class

[Im Still Ballin]

A great career. Kind of like the Millennial Alonzo Mourning. A defensively slanted center with great team success who nearly won an MVP. A prime cut short due to injuries/health concerns. Success as a role player later on.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1908329450367865336


Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania

Dwight Howard has been elected as a first-ballot member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025, sources tell ESPN. Howard was an 8-time All-Star, 8-time All-NBA, 3-time Defensive Player of Year, a 2020 NBA champion, and won one Olympic gold medal with Team USA.

[L.Kizzle]

He should have Shaq induct him.

[L.Kizzle]

Kind of interested to see who else makes it.

2008 Olympic team should (not) be here, wtf.
Buck Williams
Marques Johnson
Sue Bird
Maya Moore
Billy Donavan

Amare not making the finalists list is mind boggling.

[Xiao Yao You]

Kind of interested to see who else makes it.

2008 Olympic team should (not) be here, wtf.
Buck Williams
Marques Johnson
Sue Bird
Maya Moore
Billy Donavan

Amare not making the finalists list is mind boggling.

Donovon? :facepalm

[kawhileonard2]

Buck Williams who was on the Blazers teams?

[L.Kizzle]

Buck Williams who was on the Blazers teams?

Yep, even he was surprised he was nominated.

[Kblaze8855]

Donovon? :facepalm

4 final fours and 2 national titles might do it.

[marLeY baLL]

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/93/1a/26/931a26f7279a07baa97f175e99424d16.jpg

[Xiao Yao You]

Yep, even he was surprised he was nominated.

All d, all nba top 20 in rebounding. Gobert is a lock. Sorryvtrolls :cheers:

[Phoenix]

He should have Shaq induct him.

:lol

That does make me wonder who actually would induct him. I don't really associate him with any one player or coach.

[ILLsmak]

All d, all nba top 20 in rebounding. Gobert is a lock. Sorryvtrolls :cheers:

100 bucks says, as it is, Gobert is not gonna make it 1st ballot. If they win a ring or he does something internationally, sure, but despite the fact that he is insane on D, I wouldn't call him a famous guy. He's famous for getting posterized.

I feel like dude gets in late like Eaton.

-Smak

[ILLsmak]

He should have Shaq induct him.

Shaq would do it and be gracious. I think that would be hilarious. He'd finally end his BS act haha.

I bet it's coming.

-Smak

[Xiao Yao You]

100 bucks says, as it is, Gobert is not gonna make it 1st ballot. If they win a ring or he does something internationally, sure, but despite the fact that he is insane on D, I wouldn't call him a famous guy. He's famous for getting posterized.

I feel like dude gets in late like Eaton.

-Smak

Who said 1st ballot? Hes in despite the trolls thinking he sucks. Eaton isnt in. Its a disgrace that he hangs from the rafters in utah. It is no coincidence the jazz best years followed his retirement

[Meticode]

Deserved. Howard is the polar oppisite play-style wise at his position compared to Jokic, but was nearly as dominate in his prime. Super athletic, top tier defender in his prime,

[Kblaze8855]

Eaton was Nominated for the Hall of Fame in 2019. He’s on the list with guys like Penny, Lucas, and Marion who are nominated but not finalists. Like Buck Williams was. You can stay there for 3 years at a time and then a voter has to nominate you again. If whoever nominated, Eaton is still there presumably he will be added back at some point. All they do if you don’t get a vote is make you wait five years instead of three to be re nominated. You can wait around for 30 years. Bob Dandridge retired in like 1980 and he got in during the Covid years.

[L.Kizzle]

2008 Redeem Team should not be here, imo.
They don't have the aura that the Dream Team had and were not even on the level of the 96 Team.
They obviously just got in because of Kobe.
But at least wait until all of the players had retired. I mean he'll, if that's the case the original Dream Team should have been inducted in 93 then lol.

[Kblaze8855]

I’m surprised Christian Laettner isn’t in for the college career. He’s also a one time All-Star like Calvin Murphy, who got in and I assume Calvin got in largely because he was putting up video game numbers in college but he didn’t really go down as an all-time elite college player like most say Laettner is.

[L.Kizzle]

I’m surprised Christian Laettner isn’t in for the college career. He’s also a one time All-Star like Calvin Murphy, who got in and I assume Calvin got in largely because he was putting up video game numbers in college but he didn’t really go down as an all-time elite college player like most say Laettner is.
Those colleges guys from the 70s were better and had better NBA careers. A guy like Sidney Wicks probably has never gotten nominated before.

[Nowoco]

Buck Williams getting inducted is the single worst, most ridiculous, HoF induction of all-time. And when considering this Hall of Fame, that is saying something.

[L.Kizzle]

Buck Williams getting inducted is the single worst, most ridiculous, HoF induction of all-time. And when considering this Hall of Fame, that is saying something.

He didn't, he was nominated and made it as a finalists.

[Nowoco]

He didn't, he was nominated and made it as a finalists.

I misread the article. Thank **** for that.

[Nowoco]

I’m surprised Christian Laettner isn’t in for the college career.

Laettner's college career (top 5 all time at worst) is more than enough to get him in the HoF. The fact he was on the ****ing Dream Team puts him miles over the top.

It's an aberration he hasn't been inducted already.

[L.Kizzle]

Laettner's college career (top 5 all time at worst) is more than enough to get him in the HoF. The fact he was on the ****ing Dream Team puts him miles over the top.

It's an aberration he hasn't been inducted already.

Who are your top 5 Collegiate players.
Kareem - and who else?

[Xiao Yao You]

He didn't, he was nominated and made it as a finalists.

And arguably more deseving than michael cooper for starters

[Xiao Yao You]

Laettner's college career (top 5 all time at worst) is more than enough to get him in the HoF. The fact he was on the ****ing Dream Team puts him miles over the top.

It's an aberration he hasn't been inducted already.

The dream team shouldnt affect it. Should have been shaq

[Chick Stern]

Is Dwight the first homo in the Hall?

[Kblaze8855]

The dream team shouldnt affect it. Should have been shaq

considering they were taking the key players of that era and even going as far as to take two retired ones in magic and bird it should’ve been Isiah. And of course it was. He did get chosen, but we all know how that went. What I’m wondering is did they make the decision to include a college player after they picked Jordan over Thomas or was that the plan all along.

I feel like Stockton would have been there anyway. I bet they had three players at both positions with the retired guys. Pippen and Mullin with Bird at the 3 and Isiah and Stockton with Magic at the one Then just shifted gears to include a college player when they had to pretend they never wanted Isiah in the first place.

I have a book about the whole thing somewhere in my house. I just never read it.

[Neal Romer]

Is Dwight the first homo in the Hall?


Dennis (The Menace)

[Nowoco]

considering they were taking the key players of that era and even going as far as to take two retired ones in magic and bird it should’ve been Isiah. And of course it was. He did get chosen, but we all know how that went. What I’m wondering is did they make the decision to include a college player after they picked Jordan over Thomas or was that the plan all along.

I feel like Stockton would have been there anyway. I bet they had three players at both positions with the retired guys. Pippen and Mullin with Bird at the 3 and Isiah and Stockton with Magic at the one Then just shifted gears to include a college player when they had to pretend they never wanted Isiah in the first place.

I have a book about the whole thing somewhere in my house. I just never read it.

Two things. One, they never could have anticipated the impact and legacy the Dream Team would have. Of course they knew they were box office but be immortalised in history and still talked about constantly 30+ years later? No chance. The point being that I doubt the college player aspect was that much discussed. It was probably a light-hearted "they're going to win easily so lets throw in a college player for tradition" afterthought.

Two. We all know the rumours and murmurings but whether Jordan as a matter of fact said "I'm not playing if Isiah is" we just don't know. We do know that Jordan, Magic, Bird and Pippen didnt want him on the team. Maybe more but that's who's who of 1992 NBA players right there and IF it did come down to that, it wouldn't have been the definitive Dream Team if the best player in the world wasn't on it. The powers that be weren't going to mess up the biggest worldwide commercial for the NBA they'll ever get. Quite frankly, I have no sympathy for Zeke. He was an asshole, still is now. No-one liked him, everyone hated him. Reap what you sow and pay the price by missing out on the Dream Team.

[Xiao Yao You]

Thomas should have nnen there instead of the coat tail rider pippen. Would have had daugherty over ewing as well

[Kblaze8855]

Quite frankly, I have no sympathy for Zeke. He was an asshole, still is now. No-one liked him, everyone hated him. Reap what you sow and pay the price by missing out on the Dream Team.



Ive heard very little to suggest Jordan, Bird, and plenty of others aren’t assholes. Karl Malone definitely was as well. And dirty and other things on top of it. They were assholes who played ball and were accepted in that context. But Isiah had friends. Even on the dream team. Barkley wanted to play with him for one. They all got along on the court. Magic literally kissed him before tipoff at times.

I don’t think he’s the biggest asshole of the big 4 just the one who gets called out for it. And for the smallest infractions too. The worst things we know for a fact those guys did?

Isiah doesn’t even crack the top tier. Really. What the worst thing we know he did…ever?

Unless I missed some scandals he’s barely worth bringing up. He just had a couple of the wrong enemies…both of whom were assholes themselves.

I don’t know who the non assholes on that team would even be. It isn’t Michael, Bird, Malone, Pippen, Ewing….

David Robinson?

David Robinson by all reports is just a nice guy and genuine. Barkley is nice in person but has issues. I wouldn’t call him an asshole but he was maybe the most hated in public of the group.

It was a group of competitive assholes some of which were terrible in their personal lives.

I don’t know how to judge or even know that I should aside from the obviously criminal situations….

[ILLsmak]

Ive heard very little to suggest Jordan, Bird, and plenty of others aren’t assholes. Karl Malone definitely was as well. And dirty and other things on top of it. They were assholes who played ball and were accepted in that context. But Isiah had friends. Even on the dream team. Barkley wanted to play with him for one. They all got along on the court. Magic literally kissed him before tipoff at times.

I don’t think he’s the biggest asshole of the big 4 just the one who gets called out for it. And for the smallest infractions too. The worst things we know for a fact those guys did?

Isiah doesn’t even crack the top tier. Really. What the worst thing we know he did…ever?

Unless I missed some scandals he’s barely worth bringing up. He just had a couple of the wrong enemies…both of whom were assholes themselves.

I don’t know who the non assholes on that team would even be. It isn’t Michael, Bird, Malone, Pippen, Ewing….

David Robinson?

David Robinson by all reports is just a nice guy and genuine. Barkley is nice in person but has issues. I wouldn’t call him an asshole but he was maybe the most hated in public of the group.

It was a group of competitive assholes some of which were terrible in their personal lives.

I don’t know how to judge or even know that I should aside from the obviously criminal situations….

Mullin, Mitch Rich? Clyde probably? But yeah, I dunno, there are loner dudes. Dude got 2 rings so he's a lot better off than many of them.

I think that's the issue is that dude didn't have anyone to really ride with him except for other bad boys.

-Smak

[Lakers Legend#32]

Kobe and Shaq both knew Dwight is soft.

[Xiao Yao You]

Dwight Howard: I want KG , Shaq, and Kareem to walk me out ???? #hof – via x.com

[Xiao Yao You]

NBA legend Dwight Howard is set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. After learning about his Hall of Fame induction, Howard tweeted his desire to have one of the best NBA centers, Shaquille O’Neal, by his side. “That’s awesome, I’ll do it,” Shaq responded during a podcast. “I’ll be there. That’s my guy.” – via BasketNews

[GOBB]

As lame as Shaq bullying was. That is a pretty cool thing to do.

[John8204]

Thomas should have nnen there instead of the coat tail rider pippen. Would have had daugherty over ewing as well

I didn't think it even made basketball sense to have Isiah on the team. You had Magic and Stockton what's a third PG going to do. Laetner getting the spot over Hill, Webber, and Oneal was always worse in my eyes. And Moses Malone would have made more basketball sense than Isiah

[Xiao Yao You]

I didn't think it even made basketball sense to have Isiah on the team. You had Magic and Stockton what's a third PG going to do. Laetner getting the spot over Hill, Webber, and Oneal was always worse in my eyes. And Moses Malone would have made more basketball sense than Isiah

Stockton got hurt and pippen became the backup so a 3rd pg certainly was needed if you assume anyone could have beaten them which wasnt the case. Shaq was the only college player that should have been considered because he was already better than ewing. They said they didnt need a 3rd center so they took laettner. Of course in 96 they had hakeen, admiral and shaq

[Xiao Yao You]

And i would have taken daugherty over ewing so moses wasnt in the picture at that point

[L.Kizzle]

And i would have taken daugherty over ewing so moses wasnt in the picture at that point

No one was picking Brad D over Ewing, besides you.