Dwight Howard puts himself on the pedestal by claiming he had better prime than current MVP Nikola Jokic

Dwight Howard called himself better than Nikola Jokic in his prime and boasted about his greatness.

Dwight Howard puts himself on the pedestal by claiming he had better prime than current MVP Nikola Jokic

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Recently, in an interview with Zion Oljode of Complex, Dwight Howard made a bold statement. He boasted that he might have been better than Nikola Jokic in his prime. He also said he would definitely make the list of the top 10 centers of all time. The aging center said that whatever Jokic is achieving, he might have done it too, provided he got the opportunities that Jokic is getting.

“He got all those offensive skills. But at the same time, I was getting 38 and 20, 45-18, 19, 20, and I’m doing all this with twos. No threes, all twos.” He later clarified that he is not hating Jokic by comparing but rather telling the people that Dwight Howard, the player, doesn’t get as much attention as Jokic is getting now. Dwight called Jokic “the greatest center” in the interview.

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Dwight had recently ventured into the China League. Although he is optimistic about his NBA return, nobody knows for sure whether it is possible or not. The future for the 37-year-old doesn’t look bright in the NBA, as fans are getting better and better center-position players each year.

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Related: “Stay off the weeeed!!” Stephen A. Smith SCREAMS at Dwight Howard nullifying Nikola Jokic’s prime compared to himself

How does Dwight Howard actually fare against Jokic?

Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard in the China League (image via Rappler)

Nikola Jokic has established himself as a strong contender for the title of the greatest playmaking centre in basketball history. In the 2022-23 season, he demonstrated his exceptional skills by averaging an impressive 9.8 assists per game. Jokic is a constant triple-double threat whenever he takes the court. He has the ability to contribute to multiple statistical categories, which truly makes him a generational talent.

During his prime, Howard was an undeniable force in the game. His career boasts an impressive resume, including eight All-Star appearances, five first-team All-NBA selections, and four first-team All-Defensive team selections. Moreover, it includes three Defensive Player of the Year awards, two seasons as the league’s leader in blocks per game, and five seasons as its leader in rebounds per game. These accomplishments highlight his dominance and impact on the court.

Regardless, Howard couldn’t shine as bright after his injury during the 2011-12 season, and that is probably why he is not put up there by the fans and analysts. Dwight Howard, though, was not even included in the NBA 75 list, and that may have been disrespectful to him. Many fans and analysts alike were quick to disregard him after he chose to play for the China League but the truth is, he has had an illustrious career and does deserve the respect he is seeking.

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