9 Reasons Why Dwight Howard Has Never Reached His Potential

8. He Plays Without an Edge

When Dwight first started playing in the NBA, there was a fire, and a desire that has seemingly been extinguished. Ah, the beat down of a long career. It’s crazy to think that Dwight Howard has already endured a long career, despite being only 30-years-old, but he has been in the league since 2004. After leaving Orlando, and joining the Lakers, it seemed like he was a shell of the player he was in 2004-2008. The edge was gone. Superman was gone. The fun was gone. It was all business. It is a far cry from his being lauded by future Hall of Famers like Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. They thought he was the future of the league, and the savior of the true Center, but with his departure from O-Town, there has been little more than an ember.

https://www.slantnews.com/story/2015-12-10-why-dwight-howards-legacy-still-matters-at-age-30 Via SlantNews.com

7. He Became Too Well Fed

How’s this for a double meaning? Dwight Howard was the man in Orlando. The man through whom all blessings flowed. The offense was built around his skill set, and physical prowess, and defensively…? Who would dare challenge this giant in the paint? As mentioned, Dwight was one of the few true centers left in the league. With the rise of players like Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant, the game rapidly changed. With the rules changes, it seemed that it would allow for a player like Dwight to be more of a scoring threat, but it had the opposite effect. Dwight wasn’t going to be the man in this NBA. Not playing with his back to the basket. It’s painfully obvious that the guy doesn’t get enough touches anymore. Being so well fed, then having his servings taken away from him? It has adversely effected his career. He should be peaking, instead, he’s fading.

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/houston-rockets-dwight-howard-expects-to-be-back-soon-031815 Via foxsports.com

6. He’s a Gun For Hire

The L.A. experiment was a joke. Dwight Howard, and a then-healthy Kobe Bryant couldn’t co-exist, much less thrive in Los Angeles. At best, Dwight was a desperation attempt to function with an aging Steve Nash, and a somewhat mobile Kobe. The team did make the playoffs, but they were without Nash once they got there. It was no surprise when Dwight opted out to go elsewhere for his next NBA adventure. Choosing Houston was a bit of a shocker, but Dwight was lured by the idea of learning to better his big man skills from NBA legend Kevin McHale, and once again become the man from whom all things flowed. Sadly, Dwight didn’t do much to better his big man skills, and with the addition of James Harden, he was hardly the man to dictate the offensive flow. Now, he’s falling into a pattern of league mercenary.

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/allstar/2013/01/17/west-all-star-starter-dwight-howard.nba/ Via NBA.com

5. Doesn’t Understand the Chain of Command

Jumping back to that 2013 fiasco with the Los Angeles Lakers. Did Dwight really think he was going to come into town, and take over the squad… be The Man? Yeah. He did. He may not have said it in the media, but he certainly implied it, and his behavior on and off the court was all the proof in the puddin’. It would take a special kind of delusion to think you could step onto a court in the same uniform as Kobe Bryant, and think that somehow, you’re the most important figure in the franchise. Dwight has always struggled with the chain of command. Going back to this days in Orlando, he got along well with his teammates, but when it came to being challenged by head coach Stan Van Gundy, he pouted, complained, acted out. It has always seemed he wanted pro dollars, but no pro responsibility.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1695213-dwight-betting-30-million-on-rockets-title-says-nothing-to-do-with-kobe Via BleacherReport.com

4. He’s Often Wrong, But Won’t Admit It

We’re iso’ing in on Dwight Howard’s nemesis: his ego. And in a couple more points, we’ll address the biggest strike to his ego, that has rocked his potential professional legacy. But first, a few keys to self betterment. Listen up, everyone. When you’re wrong, it helps to admit you’re wrong. If someone gloats, and holds it over you’re head, then you can rest comfortably in the fact that they’re also wrong. Dwight Howard has never been able to admit when he’s wrong. Whether he sees it as a sign of weakness, or feels like he should own all control over a situation, he struggles mightily to grow in this arena. It’s the classic paradox: you’re at your strongest in some moments of surrender. Dwight should know that.

http://www.fanthem.com/why-dwight-howard-will-never-be-a-champion/ Via Fanthem.com

3. Never Developed His Game

File this in the subcategory of needing a collegiate career. We’re not delusional. We know Dwight Howard was absolutely dominant as a young player in the league, but he was doing that with otherworldly physicality. When it came to sustained, long-term development, he faltered mightily. If you’re a professional basketball player, there is no reason why you can’t make free throws. It’s routine. For those who struggle, it’s clear that they’ve accepted mediocrity as their standard. Kevin Garnett is a 79 percent free throw shooter. It’s not that big men can’t shoot, but Dwight never developed his game facing the basket. He worked in the post all his life, refined it, and never went outside that comfort zone. Kevin McHale tried in Houston, but that was a relative disaster. Dwight wants to dominate his way, when he needs to adapt.

2. Baby Mama Drama

As we alluded… the end all, be all in the life of Dwight Howard. Baby. Mama. Drama. While in Orlando, Dwight got one of the Orlando Magic’s dance team members pregnant. It’s life. Things like that are gonna happen. Little did he realize, she was playing him for the sucker, and has enjoyed the spoils ever since… (until he slapped her with a lawsuit, because, as part of an agreement, she was forbidden to speak his name in public, be it press. or while she was enjoying her stint on Basketball Wives.) Let’s pause right there. If you’re Dwight Howard, how can you possibly flourish as a basketball player, and focus on milking every last ounce of your potential, when your personal life is built upon such a foundation? It didn’t help when his ex-gal claimed Dwight was abusing their son. Mercy.

http://popista.com/royce-reed/basketball-wives’-royce-reed/82689 Via Popista.com

1. Lacking the Right Attitude

Have you ever heard Dwight Howard proclaim, “I want to be the greatest I can be, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get there!” There’s a reason you haven’t. Again, it’s the unavoidable snag of elite athletes who are able, at one point or another, to call themselves “the best.” The same thing happened to Shaq. But therein lies the difference between those two examples, and players like Michael Jordan or Steph Curry: where there was always more to refine–perfect. And once refined, it became about refining teammates. Dwight Howard came into the league in the spotlight, and hasn’t done a whole lot to say, “Hey, keep this spotlight on me, because you don’t want to miss what’s coming next.” Could he still be dominant? Without a doubt. Could he be one of the greatest? Hands down. But it’s wholly dependent on an attitude adjustment.

http://thecomeback.com/crossoverchronicles/nba/nba-trade-rumors-dwight-howard-dealt-underachieving-rockets.html Via thecomeback.com