Howard reflects on the slouch of the 75th anniversary celebration: "It s like a big slap"

According to US sports media F/W reporter Nico Martinez, Howard, the former All-Star player, was deeply hurt, but he attributed his recognition of the Hall of Fame and Team USA to his belief and persistence.

Basketball legend Dwight Howard spoke at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony and publicly redeemed after being disrespected by the NBA. In celebrating his entry into the Hall of Fame, he explained why there is still some pain in the face of his exclusion from the NBA’s 75th anniversary lineup.

"The best thing is, I'll go in twice," Howard said on NBA TV. "The league 75ers, yes, it hurts. Not joining that team, but entering the Hall of Fame not only because of everything I did for myself, but also helping the American team win gold, it was like a big slap. Going in twice the same year, like God said, 'I'm going to double down on you because you're persistent, consistent, and always thanking me for blessing you."

Of all the players left out of the 75th anniversary lineup, Howard is arguably the biggest snub. Although he has declined at the end of his career, he has been among the top of all the big men in basketball from 2004 in 2014. Howard averaged 18.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, shooting 57.9% from the field during the rookie season to Houston’s first year. He was selected eight times in the All-Star and won three Defensive Player of the Year awards as the league's best center. During that time, he also led the Magic to the playoffs several times, including the 2009 NBA Finals, where he played against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nicknamed "Superman", Howard is a defensive beast and a monster in the inside, using his figure and strength to overwhelm his opponent. Unfortunately, Howard began to decline in the mid-2010s, and by his second season with the Rockets, his production dropped a bit, and he was no longer the dominant force he once was. Still, Dwight was successful when he returned to the Lakers in 2019, helping them win the championship and eventually adding a ring to his honors list.

Despite Howard's accomplishments and he's always one of the top big guys in the league, the NBA inexplicably excludes him from the top 75 roster. In a very controversial move, they never sent him the invitation to honor that year, but chose players such as Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard, who had fewer honors at the time compared to Howard. While some things are bad for Dwight, he has every reason to rank among the NBA's top 75 and become one of the last "traditional" big men in the modern game. Today, we can no longer see a player like him, and his decline marks a new era in the game.

Luckily, Howard's career has been proven in other ways and he can be proud that he has finally received the recognition he deserves. As his Hall of Fame member in the NBA and Team USA, Dwight's legacy is guaranteed and his career will not be easily forgotten. Do you think Howard can be selected for the top 75 players again?