Dwight Howard will become the 13th inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame, CEO Alex Martins has announced. Howard will be inducted on Monday, March 24 at 3:45 p.m. in Kia Center, near the Orlando Magic Fan Experience.**.
In addition to the induction ceremony, Howard will be honored that night during Orlando’s game vs. L.A. Lakers. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 407-89-MAGIC.
“Dwight Howard left an undeniable imprint on the history of the Orlando Magic,” said Martins. “From being the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, to our trip to the 2009 NBA Finals, Dwight’s work helped us achieve great success during his eight seasons in a Magic uniform, both on the court and in the community. We are looking forward to inducting Dwight into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.”
Originally selected with the first overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft by Orlando, Howard played eight seasons with the Magic from 2004-12. He appeared in 621 regular season games (620 starts) with Orlando, averaging 18.4 ppg., 13.0 rpg., 1.5 apg., 2.16 blkpg. and 1.01 stlpg. in 36.2 minpg., while shooting .577 (4,034-6,988) from the floor.
Howard also appeared and started in 57 playoff games with Orlando, averaging 19.9 ppg., 14.4 rpg., 1.4 apg. and 2.77 blkpg. in 39.4 minpg., while shooting .600 (393-655) from the floor. He helped the Magic reach the 2009 NBA Finals and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010.
During his tenure with the Magic, Howard was named to the All-NBA First Team in five consecutive seasons from 2007-12, the most of any player in Orlando history, and was All-NBA Third Team once (2006-07). In 2009-10, he became the first player in franchise history to be named to the All-NBA First Team unanimously. Howard became the first player in NBA history to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in three straight seasons from 2008-11. He earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors four consecutive times (2008-12) and was All-Defensive Second Team once (2007-08).
In addition, Howard was named an NBA All-Star six consecutive times from 2007-12, leading all vote-getters in both 2009 and 2012. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2004-05, was NBA Player of the Month six times and NBA Player of the Week 18 times, both marks the most in franchise history. Howard was also the recipient of the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award a team-record six times (2004-05, 2007-12), given to the player who dedicates his efforts beyond the basketball court to enhance the lives of others.
Howard stands as the Orlando Magic’s all-time leader in points scored (11,435), rebounds (8,072), blocked shots (1,344), free throws made (3,366), free throws attempted (5,727) and minutes played (22,471). Entering this season, he also ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in games played (third, 621), field goals made (third, 4,034), steals (fourth, 626) and field goals attempted (fourth, 6,988).
Howard is a 2025 Finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Orlando Magic unveiled its inaugural Hall of Fame class on April 9, 2014 naming the first two inductees, Magic co-founder Pat Williams and the team’s first-ever draft pick and current community ambassador, Nick Anderson. Nelson also joins Shaquille O’Neal (2015), Rich DeVos (2016), Anfernee Hardaway (2017), Jimmy Hewitt (2017), Tracy McGrady (2018), David Steele (2019), Darrell Armstrong (2020), John Gabriel (2022), Brian Hill (2022) and Dennis Scott (2023) in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.
The Orlando Magic Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the great players, coaches and executives who have had a major impact during the team’s illustrious history. It bridges the past with the future of Magic basketball, and the exhibit, located in Kia Center on the terrace level near the Orlando Magic Fan Experience, provides Magic fans an opportunity to learn some Magic history while in the building.
