“I’ve been on the side where you have nothing, and now I’m on the side where anything I want is there for me.” Sure, Dwight Howard! And now, you’re about to add the ultimate piece to your legacy. The Orlando Magic just announced that Howard will be the 13th inductee in their Magic Hall of Fame. And let’s just say, he’s feeling on top of the world. “I am so grateful to be able to have this opportunity,” Howard shared. But not everyone is handing out applause. At least not the analyst Charles Barkley. But what did he say on the matter?

It’s not a shocker that Dwight Howard is now a 2025 finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and it is for a good reason. Justified, given the fact that he is the Orlando Magic’s all-time leading scorer with 11,435 points! Can you imagine? But that’s just the beginning of his outstanding performance. He also dominates the franchise record books with an astonishing 8,072 rebounds, 1,344 blocks, and 3,366 made free throws.

To date, he is among the Magic’s best in games played (third, 621), field goals made (third, 4,034), steals (fourth, 626), and field goals attempted (fourth, 6,988). So, yeah, you can say that he’s earned this title of Hall of Famer. But Charles Barkley is not sold on that. He is now questioning the entire concept of the Orlando Magic’s Hall of Fame. A little surprising, but what did he say?

On the recent episode of NBA on TNT, where the legendary panel was dissecting the game between the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls. Then, mid-discussion, a graphic popped up. It was Orlando Magic’s 13th Hall of Fame inductee, featuring Dwight Howard. While most of the legendary figures acknowledged the achievement, Charles Barkley came up with his dark humor on the stage “13? I wanna know who the first 12 are,” he quipped. Barkley found the idea of 13 Hall of Fame inductees from a single team a bit sus, exclaiming in disbelief, “That’s a lot, Kenny.”

Now we will have to wait to see whether Barkley’s unexpected question will be considered as just another dark humor to present the facts or it will spark a debate. But the fact is, with or without Barkley’s admiration, Dwight Howard is on the Hall of Fame list. And that’s justified. Ain’t it? But since Chuck seems puzzled by the Magic’s 12 other inductees, let’s clear things up.

Before Dwight Howard, who are the 12 Orlando Magic Hall of Famers

We all know that the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame does not merely immortalize statistics or ephemeral accolades. It enshrines those whose unmatched sacrifice, toil, and strategic genius sculpted the very essence of this franchise. At its core, the Hall of Fame serves as a temporal nexus, a bridge linking the grandeur of the past with the aspirations of the future. And now, as Dwight Howard ascends to his rightful place as the 13th inductee, it is only fitting that we cast our gaze upon those who carved the path before him.

The Hall of Fame was established on April 9, 2014, with its first two inductees. One was Magic co-founder Pat Williams and the other one is the franchise’s first-ever draft pick, now community ambassador, Nick Anderson. Since that momentous genesis, these luminaries have been enshrined:

We must admit that these 12 names have shaped the Orlando Magic’s legacy, what we see today. Now, with Dwight Howard joining this elite club, their Hall of Fame list will grow even stronger. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying Howard’s impact on the game. Here’s to his well-earned recognition and a legacy that continues to inspire!