Dwight Howard Drawing Comparison to Legendary Bill Russell

Filed under: Celtics, Magic, NBA Awards, NBA Playoffs

ORLANDO -- If Magic center Dwight Howard really is on course to win his first NBA championship, there is no more appropriate route than going through the Boston Celtics, whose storied past is tied so closely to legendary Bill Russell, the

greatest defensive player in league history.



The Russell/Howard comparisons (both shown above at the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas this past February) can begin on Sunday in the Eastern Conference final.



Different eras, different players, yet Howard has produced the most budding similarities to Russell since he retired 41 years ago.



"I don't know if there's anyone in history, unless you go back to Bill Russell, who you can compare Dwight to defensively,'' said Magic general manager Otis Smith, "Russell was special. He's the measuring stick for greatness. Dwight's in that conversation now.''



Howard is just 24, yet already a three-time All-NBA first-team center, winning Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons. He became the first player in league history to twice lead the league in both blocked shots and rebounding the same season.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/14/dwight-howard-drawing-comparison-to-legendary-bill-russell/