“To leave him off, now that’s disrespectful.” When someone like Tracy McGrady speaks up on your behalf, it says a lot. And in Dwight Howard’s case, it only adds fuel to the fire. The NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team announcement back in October 2021 left fans puzzled, but for Howard, it left a lasting wound. It seems even his recent Hall of Fame honor couldn’t quite patch it up.

And really, can you blame him? Just take a look at his numbers from his prime in Orlando. Between 2006-07 and 2011-12, Howard was putting up 20 points per game on nearly 60 percent shooting, pulling down 13.6 rebounds, and blocking away 2.4 shots each night. He wasn’t just part of the Magic’s system—he was the system. Four straight seasons with 50+ wins, and a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals? That’s cornerstone-level greatness.

To put this in perspective, Howard’s eight All-NBA selections, including five First Team nods, outshine several big men on the Top 75 list, like Anthony Davis with four All-NBA First Team selections or Bob McAdoo with just one. His three Defensive Player of the Year awards—a feat only matched by Rudy Gobert—cement his dominance, making his exclusion feel like a head-scratcher to many.

But what happened after that golden run in Orlando, Howard believes, is what came back to haunt him when the Top 75 list was drawn. “People, from the time I came into the league, they saw my rise happen so fast… I came in at 18, so by the time I’m 22, I’m in the finals. So people seeing me like, man, Kobe, LeBron, Dwight, I’m in that cat [category] them name,” Howard explained. And he’s right—at one point, he was in that same breath. But once his journey around the league began, something shifted. The expectations did a full 180.

As he sees it, the league started boxing him in. “The team[s] didn’t expect me to do that [lead the offensive charge] because that’s not what they wanted… Teams I was on only wanted me to be the rebounder, the vet and stuff like that. And so from a fan, they can’t understand it,” Howard said on Above The Rim with DH 12. “There’s no way you can name 75 that’s better. And I know that… without a doubt.”

But even when his role got smaller, his impact didn’t. After Orlando, Howard still kept dominating the paint. He averaged a double-double for 14 straight seasons. And remember that wild 2014 series between the Rockets and Blazers? While most people remember Damian Lillard’s buzzer-beater, Howard was quietly averaging 26 points, nearly 14 rebounds, and close to 3 blocks.

No wonder he finally earned his Hall of Fame spot. Twice, actually. Not only was he recognized individually this year, but also as part of the iconic 2008 USA Men’s Olympic team. But even with that shiny double honor, Howard still can’t shake off the snub. And it’s not just him who believes this.

NBA stars who believe Dwight Howard should’ve been in the NBA’s Top 75

It’s been four years since the NBA dropped its iconic Top 75 list, but some omissions still leave fans scratching their heads—and none more so than Dwight Howard. Even now, Draymond Green can’t hide his disbelief. On a recent episode of his podcast, the Warriors forward revisited the controversial decision, calling D12’s exclusion nothing short of “crazy.”

Anyone who’s watched Green compete over the years knows he doesn’t throw praise around lightly. He’s gone toe-to-toe with Dwight, whether it was during Howard’s time with the Houston Rockets or later with the Lakers. And Draymond remembers just how dominant he was.

“Dwight always was a force. Defensively, the way he held the paint down. Offensively, gifted — dunks, developed a jump hook. Didn’t start his career with a right-hand jump hook. Developed a jump hook…” Green reflected, clearly respecting Howard’s evolution as a player. But what really stuck with fans was Dray’s unfiltered take on the snub: “I also thought Dwight should have been on the Top 75 team. And for Dwight not to be on the Top 75 team? I thought that was crazy. Like, that didn’t make sense to me.”

And it’s not just Draymond waving the flag. Anthony Davis—another elite big man—backed Howard’s case without hesitation. “I think you know Dwight should definitely been in that top 75 list. Um, but you know, he’s a generational talent…” Davis said, going on to highlight Howard’s impact in Orlando, his multiple DPOYs, and how he helped the Lakers win it all in 2020. Clearly, for many NBA stars and fans alike, leaving Dwight off that list wasn’t just a miss—it was a monumental oversight.