Was it forgotten or ignored if you lose the 75th National Congress?

Previously, Howard, the Warcraft, was officially inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. This once powerful super center, Howard couldn't hide his excitement at the selection ceremony, but he specifically mentioned his regret for losing to the NBA 75 major.

These words also reveal a complex state of mind. On the one hand, he admitted that he was stinged by the defeat this time, and on the other hand, he finally found his sense of belonging in the Hall of Fame.

As early as the 75th roster in 2021, Howard had publicly complained and received support from some fans. At that time, this list, which symbolized historical positioning, included the most influential stars in history, and each name was familiar to fans. However, Howard, who also has the top reputation, failed to be selected. At that time, it was really surprising.

From the late 2000s to the early 2010s, Howard was the most representative person in the league's interior, surpassing the elected son James. So is he a great star who has been ignored? Should he really have a place on the 75 roster? Let's discuss it.

The time pointer is back to the 2008-2012 period, which is Howard's peak era. At that time, he was the league's recognized overlord of the penalty area. He had unique physical conditions, was 211 cm tall and weighed nearly 120 kilograms, but his movement speed and explosive power were far superior to those of players in the same position, which allowed him not only to crush his opponents with his strength at a low post, but also to cover a large area on the defensive end.

In terms of personal data, Howard was a stable inside player at his peak, averaged 20+10 per game, won the Best Defensive Player three times, won the rebounding champion for many years and the title of Block King. But he is not the inside line that wins by skills. His physical talent and defensive intuition allow him to easily appear in the right position, especially in the basket protection and defensive transfer, which almost changed the style of the game with one person.

In addition to data and awards, Howard's performance in the playoffs was also excellent. The most classic one was the 2009 Eastern Conference Final, leading the Magic to defeat James and the Cavaliers.

The Magic of the Year reached the finals, and although he eventually lost to the Beihu Lakers, Howard has proved himself that he has the ability to be the core of a championship team. At that time, he was a veritable core cornerstone and the hottest superstar in the league.

To determine whether a player is qualified to be selected for the 75th National Congress, the most important thing is to put him in the same position and review it in different eras. Howard's peak happened to occur in a delicate transition period, with the center player gradually declining, but the small ball revolution has not yet fully swept the league. There is O'Neal's remaining power in front and Curry's outside revolution. At this stage, Howard is basically the only young monster who can establish a dominant position in the penalty area.

If this dominance is observed in the context of historical centers, it will highlight his weight. If the 75 roster is spread out, the recognized great inside players basically include the following candidates:

George McCann (1948-1956) Russell (1956-1969)

Chamberlain (1959-1973) Nate Thurmond (1963-1977)

Willis Reed (1964-1973) Wes Unseld (1968-1981)

Alvin Hayes (1968-1984) Jabbar (1969-1989)

Dave Coins (1970-1983) McAdu (1972-1986)

Bill Walton (1974-1987) Robert Palish (1976-1997)

Olajuwon (1984-2002) Ewing (1985-2002)

David Robinson (1989-2003) O'Neill (1992-2010)

Garnett (1995-2016) Duncan (1997-2016)

Davis (2014-) Antetokounmpo (2014-)

These people symbolize the inside representatives of different eras. If we want to continue this inheritance, Howard's presence from the late 2000s to the early 2010s is undoubtedly one of the most representative players.

However, in the 75 roster, the NBA seemed to have a gap in the era between the late 2000s and the early 2010s, and the judges chose the modern insider Antetokounmpo and Davis. Antetokounmpo's selection was understandable. He had won two MVPs and one FMVP in his career, leading the Bucks to win the championship, locking his historical positioning ahead of schedule; but Davis's selection did cause a lot of controversy at the time.

There is no doubt about talent level. He was also a data monster at his peak, but his problem is that his peak period was not long enough, he had too many injuries, and he was not able to lead the team alone in the early Pelicans. If it weren't for the Lakers' championship in 2020, his honor book would probably not be considered great; compared with this, Howard's historical position on the defensive end is clearer, his honors are richer, and even his achievements in leading the team alone are more eye-catching.

If the NBA wants to pay tribute to representative stars from different eras through the 75 squad, then Howard is almost the most indispensable part of the late 2000s. From the perspective of the context of the times, Howard's defeat was not only a regret, but also a historical gap. His name should be recorded on the 75th list along with other inside legends, because he is indeed a representative figure of that era.

So why did he lose the election?

The reality is that there is no Howard on the 75 list, and there is probably more than one reason behind this. First of all, he lacked the championship resume. He won the only championship in his career with the Lakers in 2020, but that year he was no longer the core of the team, but instead provided defense and rebounding value with the bench inside. Compared with most Big 75, he did not play a core role in the championship team, which made his resume slightly inferior in the selection.

The second is the limitation of offensive technology. Although he can dominate the penalty area by relying on his physical fitness, he lacks Olajuwon's delicate footsteps, nor does he have all-around weapons like Duncan. His offensive method relies too much on physical talent, which leads many people to evaluate him often feel that he lacks skill and durability; and with his age and physical condition, his influence has rapidly declined. Compared with the inside line with more mature skills, Howard's later career does seem too ordinary.

More importantly, perhaps due to the influence of personal image and professional attitude. Howard was famous for his sunny smile and funny personality when he was young, but as he wandered around the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks and other teams, he was gradually labeled as immature, and his conflicts with his teammates and coaches, coupled with negative media reports on him, eventually led to a huge reduction in his reputation. Compared with those superstars who are serious and focused and have the only goal of the championship, Howard is a little frivolous in his image, which may also affect the impression of many fans.

But even so, we cannot deny Howard's historical value because of these flaws. He is one of the few players in the history of the league. In addition, he is also the five rebounding champion, the eighth All-Star, and the five best defensive team. These honors have enough weight in history and are finally able to enter the Hall of Fame. This is the best annotation of his historical status.

Looking back on Howard's career, his peak is undoubtedly dazzling. He was once the most dominant inside line in the league. His defensive achievements and personal honors are enough to make him stand at the forefront of history. The scene of him wearing a Superman cloak participating in the dunk contest is still a classic moment in the hearts of many fans. Although his image in the later stages of his career has been damaged, this is not enough to erase his historical status.

From the perspective of the times, Howard is indeed the legacy of the NBA's 75 big stars. His failure to choose more reflects the subjectivity of the voting, rather than the shortcomings of his career. Perhaps in the future, when the NBA announces the list of top 100 stars again, Howard will be able to gain the recognition he deserves.