Dwight Howard is no Hakeem Olajuwon, and he's fine with that.
In an interview with Rockets.com, Howard said he doesn't want to be compared to the Houston legend.
"It's not about emulating Dream. That's the thing. We get caught up in comparing players, trying to do what this guys does just because you work with him. The thing is, when you workout with a guy like Hakeem or Kevin McHale, you take away certain things. You don't try to do everything they can do. I could workout with Michael Jordan, but I'm not going to be able to shoot the fadeaway like Michael Jordan."
At least Howard knows his limitations. After all, The Dream did provide Houston with two championships and countless other superlatives.
"We've been working out for years and I've never tried to be Hakeem Olajuwon," Howard continued. "We made jokes about the Dream shake – he'd call mine the milk shake – but I don't want to say I'm going to be like Hakeem Olajuwon."
Still, Howard can only benefit from having legendary big men around him which Olajuwon also acknowledged.
"Standing there with Coach McHale," he said, "for me as a big guy, it was incredible to listen to what he was teaching and to see the look in his eyes, realizing his basketball IQ and understanding of the game. I was just thinking, ‘Wow, how lucky (Howard) is to be with two Hall of Famers, adding true value to his development.'
"I just feel like having guys like Hakeem and Kevin McHale on my side, I can't lose," Howard added.
Maybe Houston was the right choice for Howard after all?
