Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard awarded ‘NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year’ for third straight year
On Monday, Orlando Magic’s big man Dwight Howard earned the reputation of the best Defensive Player of the Year, proving to the National Basketball Association world that he is the best there is when it comes to protecting the rim.
“It is certainly an honour to be considered one of the best defensive players to play the game. I’m still young so hopefully I can keep up,” said Howard after receiving the award.
With this award, Howard has become the first player ever in the history of the game to clinch the coveted honour three times in a row.
Last year when Dwight Howard was crowned with the best defensive player award, he turned to Orlando’s General Manager Otis Smith when asked how many more defensive player awards he can eventually win.
At that point, Smith showed all of his 10 fingers and said, "That's not enough. I don't have enough hands." Smith was absolutely spot on.
One of the most prolific rebounders and post scorers in the league, Howard had a phenomenal season on the court and he almost single-handedly spearheaded the Magic into the play-offs. In yet another brilliant season, Howard scorched the courts with an average
of 14.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and a career-high 1.3 steals per game.
He received 114 out of 120 total votes for first place and amassed a massive 585 points. Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics was declared as the runner-up. The veteran forward received one-first-place vote and finished second with 77 points while Tyson Chandler
of the Dallas Mavericks secured the third spot with 20 second-place votes and 70 points.
There is no doubting the brilliance and sheer dominance of 6ft 11in superstar who guards the court like a beast. However, his brilliance is not only limited to the back end of the court.
The intimidating centre has been a perpetual scoring machine this season and stands on the top of the list for the Most Valuable Player title along with LeBron James of the Miami Heat and the invincible Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls.
Although, unlike the defensive player award, he is not a downright favourite for the MVP, his nomination is a sheer testament of the artistic brilliance of one of the most prolific specimens ever to have graced the NBA.
Howard is also anticipated to be in the All-NBA selection for the first team.
During the 2010-11 NBA season, Howard marshalled the Orlando Magic to the fourth position in the Eastern Conference, thus securing a home court advantage against the Atlanta Hawks in the play-off first round.
In the very first game, he erupted with a game high 46 points 19 rebounds. His super effort however went in vain as the rest of his team-mates failed to pick up the slack and stunned the Magic 103-93. However, given the influence, leadership and the aura
of the mercurial centre, the Magic cannot be taken lightly.
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