Dwight Howard, Who Was Considered The Next Shaquille O’Neal, Was Snubbed By Magic Johnson In High School

Magic Johnson was a tremendous player, but his scouting, not so much.

Magic Johnson played like he knew he was going to be a legend; it was no wonder many gamers in the 2000s looked up to him. One of those players was Dwight Howard, a future DPOY and Laker. But when he met his hero, he wasn’t the torn beast he is today.

Instead, he was a lanky teenager in the tenth grade. One look at his structure, and Johnson said Howard wouldn’t make it to the NBA in his current form. Whether out of motivation or outright hate, Dwight has since become one of the brightest players in history and the most dominant Orlando center since Shaquille O’Neal.

What a change, considering just two years after meeting Magic, he was signing up for the draft. A Hall of Fame career that started with a direct push

Magic Johnson running the Lakers’ operations was an absolute disaster. While he was in charge, the Lakers were at an all-time low, and then there was that infamous snitch scandal. It’s safe to say no one should trust Johnson with his talent any time soon.

Also read: “They used to call me “Magic Jordan!”: Michael Jordan talks about his $11,000 car dedicated to Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson and Dwight Howard never crossed paths; they would have complemented each other quite well if they had.

A natural passer and a player who thrives on the low block, where have we seen that combination? Oh yes, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Playing together for 10 seasons, they won the same number of games as the Grand Rapids, Michigan area code (616).

They may never have played together, but they played for the same team in different periods. While one was hugely successful with purple and gold, the other was a hit and miss. In his prime, Dwight should have made a lot more than DPOY. His shot at a title should have been stronger.

While he finally won his ring in 2020, he was much more of a role player than a starter. Even right now, he doesn’t have a team that wants to take him on. The era of the painted monster is slowly dying, and Dwight’s decline is an example to all.

Also read: 1988 Finals MVP shares clip of Magic Johnson and Showtime Lakers jiving in Hawaii