Dwight Howard was officially inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame last Monday night and the one-time NBA champion expressed his immense gratitude to the team who took a chance on him.
Howard was picked by the Orlando Magic with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft coming out of high school. Despite his acrimonious exit from the team in 2012, there’s no denying he is one of the best players in franchise history, especially after he guided them to the NBA Finals in 2009.
“This is my home. It will always, forever, be my home; you guys will always be my family. I love you guys forever. So thank you again for this moment. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Orlando Magic history and that number 12,” Howard said in an emotional speech via the Orlando Magic’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account.
Howard has spent his peak years with the Orlando Magic and boasts an extensive resume. He is an eight-time NBA All-Star, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, a five-time rebounding leader, a two-time blocks leader, and an NBA champion, among others.
Orlando Magic News: Dwight Howard makes Paolo Banchero plea
Dwight Howard believes the Orlando Magic are headed in the right direction with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as the team’s top players. The 39-year-old center urges Paolo Banchero to keep growing with his current team.
“Shoutout to all the Magic fans,” Howard said via Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Beede. “I know I disappointed a lot of you guys and in some ways, I disappointed myself.”
“But that’s a whole part of life. Every day we learn, we grow. Thank you guys for supporting me (during) all my beautiful years here. Paolo, don’t leave them, man. Don’t leave them,” he concluded.
