Dwight Howard Elected to Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Dwight Howard, a standout in professional basketball, has been elected as a first-ballot member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025, according to sources from ESPN on Friday night.

The announcement comes one day before the official reveal of the Class of 2025 during the NCAA Final Four event in San Antonio. Howard, who concluded his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021-22 season, is celebrated for his impressive accolades including eight-time NBA All-Star, three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics.

Over an 18-season NBA career, Howard averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and remains recognized as one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation. He was drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic in 2004, where he spent the first eight seasons of his career and led the team to the NBA Finals in 2009.

Howard’s performance peaked during his tenure with the Magic, where he won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2009 to 2011. His career also includes a championship victory with the Lakers in the COVID-19-affected 2019-20 season.

As part of the Class of 2025, Howard joins fellow basketball icons such as Carmelo Anthony, women’s players Jennifer Azzi, Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore, along with coaches Billy Donovan, Mark Few, and Jerry Welsh, and referee Danny Crawford, among others.

The enshrinement weekend is set to kick off on Sept. 5 at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. The schedule includes a tip-off celebration featuring the Class of 2025 jacket and ring presentation alongside the annual Hall of Fame Awards. The culmination of the weekend will be the enshrinement ceremony on Sept. 6 at the Hall of Fame in Springfield.

In addition to his impressive on-court achievements, Howard has also transitioned into various media ventures, including podcasts where he engages in meaningful conversations about life and sports.

“I just like to have conversations with people just to see where their spirit and their energy lies,” Howard shared in a recent interview. “A lot of times, when we see people online, we see the persona they carry on TV, but who they are off-camera can be quite different.”