Ignoring skill for a moment, does Dwight deserve...

[CavaliersFTW]

Let's ignore skill for a moment, does Dwight deserve comparisons to Shaq, Wilt, or Artis Gilmore from a purely physical standpoint? Is he going to go down historically in that rarified mold of the NBA's 'diesel' centers? There are countless testimonials and footage of Wilt's, Gilmore's, and Shaq's incredible strength and/or athleticism being well above and beyond virtually anyone that ever encountered them.

Is the same really true for Dwight? Or does the media reach a little bit and market him as something he really isn't? Dwight is like 4 inches shorter than all of those guys for starters, and I don't hear too many stories (well, none actually) about Dwight's strength rendering him as some sort of physically immovable object or dominant force out there when he exerts himself. He can jump incredibly high for a center to be certain, and he has a great physique, but he's closer to 6-9 than he is 7-1 and though he is an impressive 270lbs, 270 is less than the weights Gilmore, Wilt, and Shaq played at when they were bulked up from weight training. IMO Dwight reminds me more of a Darryl Dawkins type specimen than he does Shaq/Wilt/Gilmore. He's a specimen for sure, very athletic, but he's just not quite big and strong enough to draw physical comparisons with the diesels. What do you guys think?

[buddha]

he can jump high, he isn't that strong, quick, agile or coordinated.. that's why he is only good at rebounding and dunking.

[IncarceratedBob]

His physical peak was from 07-09/10. Too short a time span. He's nothing amazing now as far as athletecism is concerned, relative to the guys you mentioned

[navy]

Dwight would have 11 rings if he played in Wilt's era

[Bodhi]

He can jump, but other than that, no. Look how quick Shaq was in 2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kM2OdZPVaw

Dwight could never move like that. And that's just one game

[CavaliersFTW]

He can jump, but other than that, no. Look how quick Shaq was in 2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kM2OdZPVaw

Dwight could never move like that. And that's just one game
And here's Artis for those who may be unfamiliar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brh2kIvgFcw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1xqwh7PE4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBFpWJAiAI4

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Dwight would have 11 rings if he played in Wilt's era
From Burger King

[BoutPractice]

His dunk contest exploits will probably be exaggerated and help build his legend as an athletic freak.

[Dr.J4ever]

Let's ignore skill for a moment, does Dwight deserve comparisons to Shaq, Wilt, or Artis Gilmore from a purely physical standpoint? Is he going to go down historically in that rarified mold of the NBA's 'diesel' centers? There are countless testimonials and footage of Wilt's, Gilmore's, and Shaq's incredible strength and/or athleticism being well above and beyond virtually anyone that ever encountered them.

Is the same really true for Dwight? Or does the media reach a little bit and market him as something he really isn't? Dwight is like 4 inches shorter than all of those guys for starters, and I don't hear too many stories (well, none actually) about Dwight's strength rendering him as some sort of physically immovable object or dominant force out there when he exerts himself. He can jump incredibly high for a center to be certain, and he has a great physique, but he's closer to 6-9 than he is 7-1 and though he is an impressive 270lbs, 270 is less than the weights Gilmore, Wilt, and Shaq played at when they were bulked up from weight training. IMO Dwight reminds me more of a Darryl Dawkins type specimen than he does Shaq/Wilt/Gilmore. He's a specimen for sure, very athletic, but he's just not quite big and strong enough to draw physical comparisons with the diesels. What do you guys think?
He's a center that combines physicality and athleticism in a great package, but yes, he is nowhere near some of the behemoths like Wilt, Shaq, and Gilmore, who all seemed to have gone extinct.

They seem to have been replaced by "rim protectors" and 3 point shooting big men.

[ImKobe]

Dwight's one of the most athletic players ever, and one of the best dunk contest performances of all-time as well, prime Dwight looked like a video game character

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNa306PoZaA

[JohnFreeman]

He deserves no comparison with Shaq, hakeem, Ewing, Robinson, Duncan or any of these players. Yao Ming is better than Howard

[SexSymbol]

I don't know about gilmore, but Dwight isn't on Shaq's, or Wilt's level physically.
They both were higher, a lot stronger, both were faster, and jumped just as high, Wilt probably even higher.

[Vienceslav]

Well he has the highest recorded jumping reach, that's gotta count for something.
But purely on physical stature he's in a different category than the guys you named.

[Bodhi]

An underrated factor for physical ability is hand size. Not sure about Wilt or Artis, but guys like Shaq and Kareem had monster hands even for their bodies

http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/files/2009/08/teammates.jpg
http://t.co/vbcJIKK1mH

Dwight by comparison has pretty much normal sized hands
http://spreegoogs.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/alg_mitch_howard1.jpg

That's probably part of the reason why he always has to go down and gather himself before dunking or making a post move while someone like Shaq could be starting his move before even catching the ball

[Bandito]

He deserves no comparison with Shaq, hakeem, Ewing, Robinson, Duncan or any of these players. Yao Ming is better than Howard
100% agree.

[JohnFreeman]

100% agree.
Yao is underrated. F*ck injuries though.

[Nick Young]

Dwight<Alonzo Mourning
http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/17736-kobe-dunk-on-dwight-howard.jpg
http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/17736-kobe-dunk-on-dwight-howard.jpg
http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/17736-kobe-dunk-on-dwight-howard.jpg
http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/17736-kobe-dunk-on-dwight-howard.jpg
http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/17736-kobe-dunk-on-dwight-howard.jpg
http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/17736-kobe-dunk-on-dwight-howard.jpg
http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/17736-kobe-dunk-on-dwight-howard.jpg

[KobesFinger]

Just found your thread of player measurements (for those who haven't seen it (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=261350)) do you have measurements for Dwight, Gilmore and David Robinson?

And whats up with the shoe sizes? How did Wilt only wear a size 15 at 7'1? Have US shoe sizes changed?

[Jameerthefear]

In this era Dwight isn't allowed to be as physical as those centers were. If he back down his man with strength his defender just falls.

[Jameerthefear]

Yeah man but life happens sometimes. He would be the number 1 center no doubt.


Not for centers though...he was playing in a league where the second best center was barely a role player.

All those players are better than Dwight at height, speed and talent.
Nope. Basketball has done nothing but improve. Dwight plays in a stronger era.

[PsychoBe]

Nope. Basketball has done nothing but improve. Dwight plays in a stronger era.

yea because bynum, lopez, kwame brown, >>>> hakeem, ewing, robinson, shaq.

sorry but no. dwight was lauded as the best big-man by default. the rule changes as well as the lack of post-play effectively killed them but now they are in the midst of a resurgence which is why dwight does not look as impressive as he used to in comparison.

[PsychoBe]

http://dailysnark.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/820340106.gif

"stronger era"

[LeGOAT]

Dwight has a great leaping ability, he has a very strong upper body, he has the body of a prime Malone.

Shaq is just a fat coon.

Wilt never existed.

Gilmore used to put up Dwight stats, but Dwight gets the nod because he's smaller and is in a better era.
Lmao this fggt didn't watch shaq before 2008. Shaq was every bit as athletic as Howard when he played for the Magic and much much bigger

[Bandito]

Nope. Basketball has done nothing but improve. Dwight plays in a stronger era.
Aside from Dwight nobody could play in the 90's. Dwight would be a role player to maybe a couple all stars at best. He was a worse Zo Mourning version at best in his prime.


The league got better at perimeter play no doubt about that but after the rule changes the paint defense has gotten weaker and weaker.

[Jameerthefear]

Wasn't even talking about the 90's. If you don't think basketball improved from the 60's to now then you're crazy tho

[Eric Cartman]

http://dailysnark.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/820340106.gif

"stronger era"

Gets me everytime :oldlol:

[Jameerthefear]

i like how you posted a picture of the hack-a-dwight lol. like the method wasn't invented for wilt and shaq lmao

[JohnFreeman]

http://dailysnark.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/820340106.gif

"stronger era"
clown ass nikka :facepalm

[HylianNightmare]

he can jump high, he isn't that strong, quick, agile or coordinated.. that's why he is only good at rebounding and dunking.
Ding ding ding

[themurph]

This sh*t is getting out of hand....lol

Let this dude live....

[ILLsmak]

He's a great athlete, but he's a PF...

That's what people always forget. lol. For some reason they made him into a C when he is a banger PF in any other era. Imagine him alongside Hakeem or David Robinson. Shit would be ugly. Any big who had a little jumper and could defend a C would make Dwight into a beast. Even Sabonis.

-Smak

[SCdac]

He's a great athlete, but he's a PF...

That's what people always forget. lol. For some reason they made him into a C when he is a banger PF in any other era. Imagine him alongside Hakeem or David Robinson. Shit would be ugly. Any big who had a little jumper and could defend a C would make Dwight into a beast. Even Sabonis.

-Smak

Yeah Dwight came in to the league as a PF. Played it next to Darko and Battie for a bit. Problem is he has none of the skills (range, ball handling, etc) to properly play PF. All the best PF's in history had/have a midrange jump shot (I never watched Pettit tho).

[justin12140]

He absolutely used to be one of the most physically dominating players that have played in this league. His athleticism hasn't been the same since the back surgery tho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsCCrNbWo94

[kentatm]

Dwight's one of the most athletic players ever, and one of the best dunk contest performances of all-time as well, prime Dwight looked like a video game character

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNa306PoZaA


his superman "dunk" wasn't even a dunk.

so no

he did NOT put on one of the best dunk performances ever.

[navy]

his superman "dunk" wasn't even a dunk.

so no

he did NOT put on one of the best dunk performances ever.
If you ignore the Superman dunk, his other dunks were ridiculous.