A year ago, Dwight Howard was seemingly begging for appreciation from his former team. The Orlando Magic retired a jersey, Shaq’s, for the first time. DH12 hoped he was next. Magic had not reacted to his comments back then that fans speculated there was still lingering friction since Howard’s exit over a decade ago. However, the organization is finally looking past that. The Orlando Magic made a huge announcement – not a jersey retirement, but close – on Thursday night. And Dwight’s more than appreciative about the gesture.

The official Orlando Magic social media pages announced, “Dwight Howard will become the 13th inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame 🪄.” The wait won’t be that long either as they went on to say, “Howard will be inducted on Monday, March 24 at 3:45 p.m. in Kia Center, near the Orlando Magic Fan Experience.”

After Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard was Orlando’s Man of Steel sequel. Considered the best player on the team’s 2008-09 Eastern Conference championship team and Orlando’s career leader in total points, entering the franchise’s Hall of Fame was a given. He’s also a finalist for the 2025 draft class of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

While he has the credentials to merit this honor, there was a lingering fear among fans that 13-year-old friction would get in the way. But Orlando is not the grudge-bearing kind (because they chose Shaq’s jersey for the first franchise number retired after their own bitter divorce) and Howard is incredibly moved by the honor.

Very quickly after the announcement, the second coming of Superman was on X with a heartfelt response. “God is Great 🙏🏾 Thank you Orlando,” he wrote.

From being chosen as a potential Naismith HoFer, to tying the knot with Amy Luciani, and now this – it’s been a big year for Howard. Thrown in his history with Orlando, and you’d understand why this honor means so much to Dwight Howard.

Dwight Howard and Orlando Magic make peace

The announcement came during the first quarter of the Magic’s home game against the Chicago Bulls. Magic CEO Alex Martins believes the city will give their returning Superman a warm welcome. A contrast from the last time he was in Orlando for an extended period.

Infamously, the 2011-12 was marred by tensions between Howard and his team. He repeatedly demanded to be traded out. He allegedly also demanded Coach Stan Van Gundy be fired, rumors that he’s shut down very recently. While he recovered from back surgery, he was accused of giving up on Orlando. He ultimately landed in Los Angeles as the most hated man in Orlando. Over the next few years, Howard was booed in the Kia Center as an opponent but that hate died down.

It’s a similar trajectory Shaquille O’Neal was on before him. But unlike Shaq & Kobe, Kobe and Dwight were a disaster. Over the years, Howard would express his desire to rewrite history both in Orlando and LA. Magic made the first move to bury hatchets as it inducted Penny Hardaway (who also left on a bad note) into the team’s Hall of Fame and retired Shaq’s #33.

At Shaq’s jersey retirement last February, Howard expressed his desire to be recognized by Orlando too when he posted, “Congrats to Shaq. One Superman down. Thank you Magic.” Whether #12 will hang alongside #33 is not sure but O-town feels the HoF induction is a step towards it.

Alex Martins assured that the team has a history of burying feuds and rolling out the red carpet. This will be no different. The date, March 24 gains added significance as Orlando plays against the Los Angeles Lakers that night. Apart from Howard’s stacked history with the Lakers, his teammate from the 2020 Lakers championship, LeBron James will be in the house.