NBA

NBA has a new monster in the middle

Magic’s Howard, 22, already the best center in the league

Morry Gash / AP

At the age of 22, Dwight Howard is already an unstoppable force in the paint.

The future
In fact, it was Howard’s combination of “as is” and “can become” that made Orlando’s draft decision in June of 2004 an easy one. The Magic selected Howard ahead of Emeka Okafor, who went No. 2 to the Bobcats. Okafor is a solid player, averaging 14.5 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots per game in four seasons, but he lacks Howard’s dynamic, franchise-carrying basketball skills and personality.

“Emeka was certainly impressive, but Dwight just kind of blew the doors off,” said Jent, describing Howard’s pre-draft workouts. “The potential of what he could become, his athleticism, how big he was, his explosiveness. All that kind of made it a no-brainer.”

Howard’s unique blend of agility and power makes it difficult to compare him to another player, past or present. O’Neal (stronger, but not as fast or nimble), Darryl Dawkins (never dominated or produced these numbers) and pre-surgery Amare Stoudemire (not as much of a paint presence) provide loose comparisons at best.

“I’m sure there was somebody out there that had his build, but I don’t know if there was anyone as explosive as Dwight,” Wiley said. “He can explode and he gets after it.”

One area where Howard shares a dubious bond with O’Neal and other big men is free-throw shooting. Howard is right around 60 percent this season and for his career, although he had a breakthrough Dec. 14 at Charlotte when he started the game 3-for-12 from the line before sinking eight in a row to close out the victory after the Bobcats intentionally fouled him four consecutive times.

Chuck Burton / AP

Howard's combination of strength and explosiveness makes him unique in NBA history.

Wiley said he attends practice more often the required because, well, he just doesn’t want to miss something special.

“Kevin Johnson told me a long time ago when I was playing that you want to get to a point as a player where the great things that you do people take them for granted,” Wiley said. “That’s where we’re getting with Dwight, although he still does so many incredible things, there is always something that makes you say, ‘Wow. Did I just see what I think I saw?’

“Sometimes, he’ll come out of the locker room for practice, have the ball and tap the back of the backboard, then come around and windmill and dunk it on the front side. And he just casually keeps walking. He didn’t stretch or warm up or anything. He gets a chuckle out of people’s eyebrows going up.”

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Only recently turned 22, he has so far to go. Or has he?

“He is without question the best center in this league right now. I’ve seen him play against Duncan, Garnett and Shaq, and he’s had the upper hand in all three,” Adubato said.

Add Stoudemire into that mix, and indeed, in five games this season against the NBA’s top big men, Howard is averaging nearly 28 points and 15 rebounds, better than his overall numbers. He has two showdowns in the next three weeks with Houston’s Yao Ming.

Where he currently ranks among the NBA’s elite, however, is less important than the joy with which he plays. And that is something Howard plans to never lose.

“Enjoy it now, that’s so important,” Wiley said. “Don’t wait for the finished product. You never know when an injury or something can come up. Enjoy the memories. Enjoy the journey. That’s what Dwight is doing.”

Bill Woten is a contributor to msnbc.com and the author of “Game 7: Inside the NBA’s Ultimate Showdown.”

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