By SAM GARDNER
FOXSportsFlorida.com Magic Writer
In his first six NBA seasons since being drafted No. 1 overall out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in 2004, Dwight Howard has become a household name, and is widely regarded as the NBA's top center.
In 19 games so far this season, Howard has averaged a career high in points with 20.9 per game to go with 12.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a night, and his improved play -- especially on offense -- is garnering him consideration for the league's MVP award.
He's led a team to an NBA Finals and an Eastern Conference Finals and he's won an Olympic gold medal. He's a movie star, and he just released his first album.
He's a four-time All-Star, and he's won the defensive player of the year award twice. He's led the league in rebounding each of the last five seasons, and he's led the league in blocks on two occasions. He's earned All-Defensive first team honors twice and All-NBA first team honors three times.
And December 8, 2010 marks his 25th birthday.
Howard has accomplished more by the age of 25 than many NBA players can hope to accomplish in a lifetime, but is he the greatest 25 year old ever?
Here is a look at how he stacks up against some of the all-time greats before their 25th birthdays*:
Howard:
| Points | Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks |
Games |
|
| 2004-05 |
981 |
823 |
75 |
136 |
82 |
| 2005-06 |
1,292 |
1,022 |
125 |
115 |
82 |
| 2006-07 |
1,443 |
1,008 |
158 |
156 |
82 |
| 2007-08 |
1,695 |
1,161 |
110 |
176 |
82 |
| 2008-09 |
1,624 |
1,093 |
112 |
231 |
79 |
| 2009-10 |
1,503 |
1,082 |
144 |
228 |
82 |
| 2010-11 |
398 |
230 |
21 |
46 |
19 |
| TOTAL |
8,936 |
6,419 |
745 |
1,088 |
508 |
| AVG/GM |
17.6 |
12.6 |
1.5 |
2.1 |
Bill Russell:
| Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks** |
Games |
|
| 1956-57 |
706 |
943 |
88 |
N/A |
48 |
| 1957-58 |
1,142 |
1,564 |
202 |
N/A |
69 |
| 1958-59 |
1,168 |
1,612 |
222 |
N/A |
70 |
| TOTAL |
3,016 |
4,119 |
512 |
N/A |
187 |
| AVG/GM |
16.1 |
22.0 |
2.7 |
N/A |
Wilt Chamberlain:
| Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks** |
Games |
|
| 1959-60 |
2,707 |
1,941 |
168 |
N/A |
72 |
| 1960-61 |
3,033 |
2,149 |
148 |
N/A |
79 |
| TOTAL |
5,740 |
4,090 |
316 |
N/A |
151 |
| AVG/GM |
38.0 |
27.1 |
2.1 |
N/A |
Willis Reed:
| Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks** |
Games |
|
| 1964-65 |
1,560 |
1,175 |
133 |
N/A | 80 |
| 1965-66 |
1,178 |
883 |
91 |
N/A |
76 |
| 1966-67 |
1,628 |
1,136 |
126 |
N/A |
78 |
| TOTAL |
4,366 |
3,194 |
350 |
N/A |
234 |
| AVG/GM |
18.7 |
13.6 |
1.5 |
N/A |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
| Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks** |
Games |
|
| 1969-70 |
2,367 |
1,190 |
337 |
N/A |
82 |
| 1970-71 |
2,596 |
1,311 |
272 |
N/A |
82 |
| 1971-72 |
2,822 |
1,346 |
370 |
N/A |
81 |
| TOTAL |
7,785 |
3,847 |
979 |
N/A |
245 |
| AVG/GM |
31.8 |
15.7 |
4.0 |
N/A |
Hakeem Olajuwon:
| Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks |
Games |
|
| 1984-85 |
1,692 |
974 |
111 |
220 |
82 |
| 1985-86 |
1,597 |
781 |
137 |
231 |
68 |
| 1986-87 |
1,755 |
858 |
220 |
254 |
75 |
| 1987-88 |
741 |
417 |
71 |
112 |
36 |
| TOTAL |
5,753 |
3,042 |
544 |
848 |
262 |
| AVG/GM |
22.0 |
11.6 |
2.1 |
3.2 |
Shaquille O'Neal:
| Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks |
Games |
|
| 1992-93 |
1,893 |
1,122 |
152 |
286 |
81 |
| 1993-94 |
2,377 |
1,072 |
195 |
231 |
81 |
| 1994-95 |
2,315 |
901 |
214 |
192 |
79 |
| 1995-96 |
1,434 |
596 |
155 |
115 |
54 |
| 1996-97 |
1,189 |
591 |
143 |
140 |
46 |
| TOTAL |
9,208 |
4,282 |
859 |
964 |
341 |
| AVG/GM |
27.0 |
12.6 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
Kevin Garnett:
| Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks |
Games |
|
| 1995-96 |
835 |
501 |
145 |
131 |
80 |
| 1996-97 |
1,309 |
618 |
236 |
163 |
77 |
| 1997-98 |
1,518 |
786 |
348 |
150 |
82 |
| 1998-99 |
977 |
489 |
202 |
83 |
47 |
| 1999-00 |
1,857 |
956 |
401 |
126 |
81 |
| 2000-01 |
1,784 |
921 |
401 |
145 |
81 |
| TOTAL |
8,280 |
4,271 |
1,733 |
798 |
448 |
| AVG/GM |
18.5 |
9.5 |
3.9 |
1.8 |
Tim Duncan:
| Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Blocks |
Games |
|
| 1997-98 |
1,731 |
977 |
224 |
206 |
82 |
| 1998-99 |
1,084 |
571 |
121 |
126 |
50 |
| 1999-00 |
1,716 |
918 |
234 |
165 |
74 |
| 2000-01 |
1,820 |
997 |
245 |
192 |
82 |
| TOTAL |
6,351 |
3,463 |
824 |
689 |
288 |
| AVG/GM |
22.1 |
12.0 |
2.9 |
2.4 |
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