Dwight Howard was a force of nature during his time with the Orlando Magic, anchoring one of the league's toughest defenses. D12 led the NBA in rebounding five times and captured three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2009 to 2011.
Still, an MVP trophy eluded him, even though Dwight cracked the top five in voting four years in a row. In Howard's eyes, 2011 should've been his year after dragging an injury-riddled Magic squad to a fourth seed almost single-handedly.
"I think the year that D-Rose won. I think that my numbers and everything was crazy that year," Howard said on "The Big Podcast" with Shaquille O'Neal. "Just because I was a big man, it was like, 'Nah, we're not gonna let him win.'"
As Adam Lefkoe noted, Howard averaged 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.4 blocks. The points were the highest of his career, and he was second in rebounding behind Kevin Love and third in blocks behind Serge Ibaka and JaVale McGee. Dwight also averaged a league-high 11.7 free throw attempts.
"The only reason he won is he said, 'I think I can be the MVP.' They wanted that story line and that's how he got it. No hate or shade on him, but that was my year," the 2004 first-overall pick added.
Even though Howard placed second behind D-Rose, it wasn't really close. The Bulls guard garnered 113 out of a possible 121 first-place votes. Even LeBron James (4) had more first-place votes than "Superman" (3). As Dwight mentioned, the Windy City-born Rose actually predicted his MVP campaign before the season started and followed through with his word. More importantly, "Pooh" led the Bulls to a league-best 62-20 record that year, 10 games better than the Magic.
"Back in training camp when I said I wanted to be MVP, I wasn't trying to be cocky at all," Rose said per ESPN. "I knew that I put a lot of hard work in over the summer in the offseason, and I just wanted to push myself."
Still, an MVP trophy eluded him, even though Dwight cracked the top five in voting four years in a row. In Howard's eyes, 2011 should've been his year after dragging an injury-riddled Magic squad to a fourth seed almost single-handedly.
"I think the year that D-Rose won. I think that my numbers and everything was crazy that year," Howard said on "The Big Podcast" with Shaquille O'Neal. "Just because I was a big man, it was like, 'Nah, we're not gonna let him win.'"
As Adam Lefkoe noted, Howard averaged 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.4 blocks. The points were the highest of his career, and he was second in rebounding behind Kevin Love and third in blocks behind Serge Ibaka and JaVale McGee. Dwight also averaged a league-high 11.7 free throw attempts.
2011 MVP race
Although Shaq disagreed a bit when Howard brought up his stats, the "Daily Double" had a point. Only 19 players in the Association averaged at least 20 that year, and D12 was 11th behind Kevin Martin (23.4) and Dirk Nowitzki (23.0). Even Derrick Rose, the eventual winner, averaged "only" 25, and Dwight had higher win shares than the Chicago Bulls high-flyer."The only reason he won is he said, 'I think I can be the MVP.' They wanted that story line and that's how he got it. No hate or shade on him, but that was my year," the 2004 first-overall pick added.
Even though Howard placed second behind D-Rose, it wasn't really close. The Bulls guard garnered 113 out of a possible 121 first-place votes. Even LeBron James (4) had more first-place votes than "Superman" (3). As Dwight mentioned, the Windy City-born Rose actually predicted his MVP campaign before the season started and followed through with his word. More importantly, "Pooh" led the Bulls to a league-best 62-20 record that year, 10 games better than the Magic.
"Back in training camp when I said I wanted to be MVP, I wasn't trying to be cocky at all," Rose said per ESPN. "I knew that I put a lot of hard work in over the summer in the offseason, and I just wanted to push myself."
