The competitive nature of NBA players often prevents them from openly praising their rivals. Still, there are moments when a player's dominance is so overwhelming that even those on the receiving end can't help but admire their brilliance.
For the older generation, one such moment was when Larry Bird dropped 60 points on the Atlanta Hawks , prompting their bench to cheer for him as he unapologetically dominated their teammates. For Lou Williams , something similar happened when Dwight Howard dunked on his Philadelphia 76ers teammate, Jrue Holiday .
Although Howard jumped into the NBA straight from high school, he was ready to compete against the best of the best right away, averaging 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in his rookie season with the Orlando Magic . By his third NBA campaign, he was selected to the All-NBA Team and the All-Star Game.
Over the next five seasons, Howard consistently earned selection in the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams while securing three Defensive Player of the Year awards and leading the league in rebounds and blocks in two campaigns. He wasn't just a traditional rim protector, but someone who also had the versatility, acumen and scoring arsenal, so much so that he averaged as high as 22.9 points per game during the 2010-11 NBA campaign.
Howard's numbers paint a picture of how dominant he was during his prime years with the Magic. But the fear he instilled on the court might be an even better proof of how much of a force he was at the peak of his powers.
Williams and the 76ers witnessed that first-hand when Howard put Holiday on a poster. And they couldn't hide their admiration after witnessing such a jaw-dropping play, despite their teammates being on the receiving end.
" Dwight Howard , in his 'Superman' days in Orlando, dunked on Jrue Holiday in Philly. We jumped up off the bench and forgot we was his teammates," the three-time Sixth Man of the year recalled while bursting out with laughter. "You can see us on the bench — me and Andre Iguodala like, 'Ohh!'"
Looking back on that play, Howard noticed their reaction.
"If you actually look at the bench, Andre Iguodala stood up like he was on my team; he was about to clap," he said with a laugh.
Moments like these underscore the magnitude of Howard's prime. While critics often point to his inability to lead his team to an NBA championship as a stain on his legacy, such arguments tend to overlook the sheer dominance he displayed during his peak years.
Howard's exclusion from the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team continues to spark debate even today, but admissions like Williams's make it clear just how feared and respected he was across the league during his peak days.
At his best, Howard's dominance commanded the attention and admiration of opponents, fans and even those sitting on rival benches. These days, though, it feels like many have forgotten just how great the Magic legend truly was.
Perhaps his recent Hall of Fame induction will serve as the reminder everyone needs.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
