The bad news for opponents of the Orlando Magic is that Dwight Howard is one of the best post players in the NBA. The worse news is that he's young, so he's going to get even better.
One of the last players to jump from high school to the pros before the NBA instituted its minimum age rule, Howard wasted no time justifying Orlando's decision to take him first overall in the 2004 draft. Starting all 82 games in his rookie season, he averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds a game. Howard and Emeka Okafor became the first rookies to average a double-double since Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning both did it in 1992-93.
Howard's scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage all increased during his sophomore campaign, making him a legitimate threat to score 20 points or grab 20 boards - he was the youngest player in NBA history to accomplish that feat - in any game. He's also the Magic's last line of defense, capable of highlight-quality blocked shots once opposing players venture into the paint.
Rewarded with his first All-Star selection in 2007, Howard made the weekend a memorable one. He didn't make the finals of the Rising Stars Slam Dunk competition, but his dunk that saw him place a sticker of himself 12 feet, six inches high on the backboard was the one everyone was buzzing about the next day. He wasn't too shabby in the All-Star Game either, scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 boards.
With all of the attention a first overall pick receives, Howard is already a known quantity among basketball collectors. He has almost 40 rookie cards that span a range of prices, including his 2004-05 Exquisite # 90 autographed jersey card which easily brings four-digit prices when it sells. Still, compared to the 2003-04 rookie class of LeBron, Carmelo, D-Wade and company, Howard's cards - like his game - may still have room to grow.
Dwight Howard 2004-05 Rookie Cards
- Black Diamond # 184
- Bowman # 129
- Bowman Chrome # 129
- Bowman Signature Edition # 56 - jersey card #'d to 100
- E-XL # 78 - #'d to 399
- Exquisite # 90 - autographed jersey card #'d to 99
- Finest # 159 - #'d to 400
- Flair # 82 - #'d to 799
- Fleer Authentix # 129 - #'d to 750
- Fleer Genuine # 127 - #'d to 500
- Fleer Showcase # 93 - #'d to 199
- Fleer Sweet Sigs # 90 - #'d to 999
- Fleer Throwbacks # 77 - jersey card #'d to 499
- Fleer Tradition # 221
- Hoops # 193 - #'d to 1750
- Hoops Hot Prospects # 91 - jersey card #'d to 350
- SkyBox Autographics # 69 - #'d to 750
- SkyBox Fresh Ink # 113 - #'d to 499
- SkyBox LE # 76 - #'d to 99
- SkyBox Premium # 76 - #'d to 999
- SP Authentic # 186 - autographed, #'d to 999
- SP Game Used # 92 - #'d to 999
- SP Signature Edition # 101 - jersey card #'d to 499
- SPx # 147 - autographed jersey card #'d to 750
- Topps # 221
- Topps Bazooka # 220
- Topps Chrome # 166
- Topps Luxury Box # 101
- Topps Pristine # 101
- Topps Total # 315
- Ultimate Collection # 127 - autographed, #'d to 250
- Ultra # 176 - #'d to 500
- Upper Deck # 224 - SP
- Upper Deck All-Star Lineup # 92
- Upper Deck Hardcourt # 91 - #'d to 999
- Upper Deck Pro Sigs # 91
- Upper Deck R-Class # 91
- Upper Deck Sweet Shot # 131 - #'d to 499
- Upper Deck Trilogy # 141 - #'d to 499