Dwight Howard: Just the Facts

2004-05 NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE
  • The #1 overall draft pick played and started in every game this season for the Magic (82 games), averaging 12.0 ppg., 10.0 rpg. and 1.66 blkpg….Howard became the first player in NBA history to start in every regular season outing during his rookie campaign coming directly out of high school.

  • Led the Magic in rebounding, blocked shots and finished second in field goal percentage…Led (or tied) the team in scoring five times and in rebounding a team-best 55 times.

  • Ranks among all NBA players in rebounds per game (8th), blocked shots (19th) and field goal percentage (10th).

  • Ranks in top 10 among all NBA rookies in seven categories: scoring (4th), rebounding (2nd), FG percentage (4th), assists (T-19th), steals (6th), blocked shots (3rd) and minutes played (3rd).

  • Recorded a team-high 32 double-doubles, the fourth-most by an Eastern Conference rookie since 1997-98…Currently one of only nine players in the NBA to average a double-double…One of only 11 players (along with Okafor) since 1984-85 to average a double-double in his rookie season (Brand, Coleman, L. Johnson, Mutombo, Mourning, Duncan, O’Neal, D. Robinson and Olajuwon) and became the youngest player in NBA history to average a double-double.

  • Became the youngest player in NBA history to record 20-plus rebounds in a game (15 points, 20 rebounds on Dec. 1 vs. Toronto)…The 20 boards were the most by an NBA rookie since Amare Stoudemire had 21 rebounds on Nov. 10, 2003 vs. Memphis…He also ripped down 20 boards on Feb. 10 vs. Atlanta and again on Mar. 9 @ Toronto, becoming the first rookie since Tim Duncan in 1997-98 to record multiple 20-plus rebound games.

    Below are the youngest players ever to record two 20-plus rebound games in the same season:

    PLAYER SEASON TEAM AGE
    Dwight Howard 2004-2005 Orlando 19 years, 65 days
    Joe Smith 1995-1996 Golden State 20 years, 196 days
    Shaquille O'Neal 1992-93 Orlando 20 years, 286 days
    Tim Duncan 1997-98 San Antonio 21 years, 331 days
    Shaquille O'Neal 1993-94 Orlando 21 years, 346 days

    ·Recorded 10-or-more rebounds during his first nine NBA contests, marking the first time since 1992-93 that an NBA rookie opened his career with 10-plus boards during that span…The last rookie to accomplish the feat was Shaquille O’Neal, also with the Magic, 12 seasons ago…He pulled down 10-plus boards in his first 12 NBA outings

    PLAYER SEASON TEAM # of CONSECUTIVE 10+ REBOUND GAMES TO START CAREER
    Shaquille O’Neal 1992-93 Orlando 12
    Dwight Howard 2004-05 Orlando 9 (Nov. 3-20, 2004)
    Dikembe Mutombo 1991-92 Denver 5
    Emeka Okafor 2004-05 Charlotte 4

  • Selected to play in the 2005 got Milk? Rookie Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend…Finished with 14 points (7-10 FG, 0-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist, a game-high three blocks and one steal in 19 minutes.

    (as of Apr. 7, 2005)