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Howard voted best defensive player
Source: Agencies |
April 22, 2010, Thursday
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DWIGHT Howard won his second straight NBA defensive player of the year award on Tuesday after becoming the only player to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season twice - let alone in consecutive years.
Now 24, perhaps the next step for Howard is improving his offensive game enough to sway voters that he should win the Most Valuable Player award. Cleveland's LeBron James seems certain to take that honor again, and Howard said voters should factor in defense more.
"I think most people look at Most Valuable Player as somebody who scores a lot of points, which is great. I believe that defense wins championships, wins games," said Howard, who averaged 18.3 points per game. "I've always thought about it like that, and I'll continue to think about it like that."
The Orlando Magic's All-Star center received 576 total points, including 110 first-place votes from a panel of 122 NBA writers and broadcasters. Atlanta's Josh Smith was second with 136 points, and Charlotte's Gerald Wallace finished third with 113.
Howard averaged 13.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game this season, powering the Magic to the league's second-best record behind Cleveland. Only Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ben Wallace each led the NBA in those categories once in the same season. Blocks were not kept as an official statistic until 1973.
"I think it speaks very highly of him, at 24, he's winning the award twice," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
Howard already was the youngest player to win the award last season. Players and coaches believe he could take the honors for years to come.
The No. 1 overall draft pick out of high school in 2004, Howard has quickly become one of the most dominant centers. His chiseled, 2.11 meter, 125 kilogram physique makes him one of the most intimidating players, and his incredible vertical leap is even rarer for a big man. Certainly not a player easy to get around.
"You always have to know he's going to be there. He has great instinct," teammate Vince Carter said. "You know if you beat your man, you still have to get around Dwight."
Howard led the Magic to the NBA finals last year, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. The Magic also have won three straight Southeast Division titles.
Now 24, perhaps the next step for Howard is improving his offensive game enough to sway voters that he should win the Most Valuable Player award. Cleveland's LeBron James seems certain to take that honor again, and Howard said voters should factor in defense more.
"I think most people look at Most Valuable Player as somebody who scores a lot of points, which is great. I believe that defense wins championships, wins games," said Howard, who averaged 18.3 points per game. "I've always thought about it like that, and I'll continue to think about it like that."
The Orlando Magic's All-Star center received 576 total points, including 110 first-place votes from a panel of 122 NBA writers and broadcasters. Atlanta's Josh Smith was second with 136 points, and Charlotte's Gerald Wallace finished third with 113.
Howard averaged 13.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game this season, powering the Magic to the league's second-best record behind Cleveland. Only Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ben Wallace each led the NBA in those categories once in the same season. Blocks were not kept as an official statistic until 1973.
"I think it speaks very highly of him, at 24, he's winning the award twice," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
Howard already was the youngest player to win the award last season. Players and coaches believe he could take the honors for years to come.
The No. 1 overall draft pick out of high school in 2004, Howard has quickly become one of the most dominant centers. His chiseled, 2.11 meter, 125 kilogram physique makes him one of the most intimidating players, and his incredible vertical leap is even rarer for a big man. Certainly not a player easy to get around.
"You always have to know he's going to be there. He has great instinct," teammate Vince Carter said. "You know if you beat your man, you still have to get around Dwight."
Howard led the Magic to the NBA finals last year, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. The Magic also have won three straight Southeast Division titles.
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