In the world of YouTube, Dwight Howard is already a legend.
Seen his “Kiss the Rim” dunk? Sick. Catch his “Sticker” dunk in last season’s dunk contest? Underrated. Dial them up.
And his NBA legend is catching up. Quickly.
The 6-foot-11, 265-pound youngster arguably has the best set of shoulders in the history of human life. George Karl marvels at the sight of the fourth-year player. The Nuggets coach says Howard appears to be walking around with shoulder pads on.
“He looks like he’s wearing inflated muscles,” Karl said.
Of more pressing, and important, praise is what Karl believes of Howard’s upside. At just 22 years old, he is perhaps the NBA’s most dominant force in the paint with averages of 22.4 points and 15.2 rebounds. Karl thinks in future seasons that could balloon to a Wilt Chamberlain-esque 20-20.
“I don’t know his passion,” Karl said, “but if he has the passion of a Kevin Garnett, this guy could be super. I’ve never thought a guy could go 20 and 20, but this kid might be able to do 20 and 20 someday. He’s at 15 now. He has had the games where he’s had 28 or 29.”
Tonight, the Nuggets have to deal with Howard and his NBA-leading 32 double-doubles in 37 games.
“I don’t really know how to describe him: strong, physical — I ain’t about to go down word for word, but he’s a man-child,” Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said. “I don’t even think he’s reached his full potential. He’s still 21, 22 years old, so he’s got a long way to go.”
Anthony was a teammate of Howard’s in the summer with Team USA, which qualified for the Olympics in the FIBA Americas Tournament.
“In practice, we used to play around. I used to try to guard him and things like that,” Anthony said. “I used to always try to fight with him for offensive rebounds in practice. He’s just so strong and so big down there in the paint. And I’ve seen him get better from August to right now. I’ve seen him get extremely better.”
Howard has had seven games of 20 or more rebounds this season, including the eye-popping stat line of 30 points and 23 rebounds on Nov. 30 at Phoenix.
“He’s getting better each and every day, each and every game,” Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin said. “It’s what it’s all about. He’s a young, great talent in this league. He’s coming into his own. He’s put that team on his back.”
Not that any of it matters much to Martin, who along with Marcus Camby will draw the assignment of guarding Howard.
“I play every game, no matter who it is. I play everybody the same,” Martin said. “It’s not the first, big, gifted athlete to come through this league and people have had to deal with him. And he’s not going to be the last.”
This past summer, the Magic locked up Howard for the next five years with a contract extension worth $85 million. Former Knicks center Patrick Ewing is an assistant on Orlando’s staff and has worked to improve Howard’s game. Howard has said that even in games in which he has scored more than 30 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, Ewing stays tough, making sure he never rests on his accomplishments.
Karl wasn’t sold on Howard being a superstar when he jumped from high school in Georgia to the NBA in 2004. But after seeing him play in a summer league after the 2004-05 season, Karl was convinced.
“He had it then,” Karl said. “I don’t think there’s a bigger force around the basket in the league. Shaq doesn’t get there as often. This kid gets there all the time. It’s going to be a lot of fun for our big guys to figure him out.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
Orlando at Denver
7 p.m. tonight, Altitude, KKFN 950 AM
Spotlight on Rashard Lewis: Lewis has
been good, not great, with the Magic
this season, carrying some of the scoring
that made him a popular free agent,
leading to a sign-and-trade with the Sonics
that netted the forward a six-year,
$110 million contract. He is third on the
team in scoring (18.3 points per game)
and leads the team in 3-point percentage (.388).
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony can see the light at the end of the all-star tunnel. The Nuggets forward was still second among Western Conference forwards in all-star voting — meaning he would start — when the fourth and final update was announced Thursday. Starters will be announced Jan. 24. Anthony, who has 1,218,106 votes to Tim Duncan’s forwards-leading 1,246,125, refuses to get excited until the tally is official. “I don’t believe in nothing until it’s done,” he said. “Until the fat lady sings.” … The Nuggets game start at Cleveland on Feb. 10 has been changed to 5 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN. Denver’s Feb. 22 game at Chicago will not be televised by ESPN.
Magic: Tonight’s game is the third in a four-game Western Conference road trip for the Magic. Orlando has already lost to Sacramento and beaten the L.A. Clippers. It travels to Utah to face the Jazz on Saturday night. … The Magic is 9-8 against Western Conference teams. … Orlando’s win over the Clippers snapped a three-game losing streak.
Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
