"I’m not retired yet, but ..." - Dwight Howard makes feelings clear on being nominated for 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame class

NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Los Angeles Kings - Source: Imagn — Dwight Howard makes feelings clear on being nominated for 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame class (Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Former Orlando Magic superstar center Dwight Howard was nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on Thursday. Afterward, he expressed gratitude for the honor, while quipping about prolonging his career.

Howard was one of Thursday's highest-profile first-time Hall of Fame nominees, along with NBA and WNBA legends Carmelo Anthony and Sue Bird.

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Drafted in 2004, Howard played 18 seasons with seven different NBA franchises, racking up eight All-Star selections and eight All-NBA nods. He was considered one of the league's premier defenders during his prime, winning three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2009 to 2011. He also made five NBA All-Defensive teams.

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Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season with the LA Lakers, providing serviceable big man production. Afterward, he took his talents overseas, most recently suiting up for the Taoyuan Leopards of Taiwan's T1 League.

Upon seeing the news of his Hall of Fame nomination, Howard showed appreciation on X/Twitter, noting that he hasn't officially called it a career. He later expressed hopefulness that he won't be snubbed like he was from the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

"I'm not retired yet, but I'll take it," Howard wrote. "I'm extremely grateful, I just pray they don't do me like they did the last list."

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Dwight Howard to discover Basketball Hall of Fame finalist fate on Feb. 14

Dwight Howard and his fellow 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame nominees still have to wait a few months before finding out if they are named finalists.

The finalists will reportedly be announced on Feb. 14 at NBA All-Star Weekend. Afterward, the players chosen to be inducted into the Hall of Fame will be revealed on April 5 at the NCAA Men's Final Four.

Given Howard's extensive career accolades, including a late-career NBA championship with LA (2020), he should have a good chance of making the cut.

Across 1,242 regular-season appearances, Howard averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 58.7%.