Dwight Howard Tribute From The Magic Gets Mixed Reviews

Dwight Howard was given a video tribute by the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night at the Amway Center just two years after his unceremonious exit from the franchise to play for Los Angeles Lakers. Howard is now a member of the Houston Rockets, who were in Orlando for the Wednesday match-up.

The Magic have had a series of “Legends Nights” throughout the season where they have shown video tributes to former players for the team that have returned with their new clubs. Some of the players that have been given tributes by the club this season are; Randy Ayers, Zaza Pachulia, Ty Lue, and Gus Ayón. No casual NBA fan has any idea who these people are. I am even willing to bet that there are Magic fans that have no clue who Zaza Pachulia is. This is not a shot at Zaza, He has done no wrong here, But he was selected by the Magic in the 2003 NBA draft and was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004 expansion draft. He was with the Magic for exactly one season. My point is that it should be abundantly clear that the Orlando Magic do not have a plethora of “legends” to choose from. This is why, love him or hate him, Dwight Howard deserved to be honored by the team.

Now, having said all of this, I do not blame Magic fans in the least for booing the video for Howard during a first quarter timeout on Wednesday night. The team clearly thought that this could happen as well judging by the statement that they released on their official website regarding the Dwight Howard tribute:

“At some point during a timeout in the first quarter on Wednesday night, the Orlando Magic will continue their year-long celebration of the 25th anniversary season by showing a video tribute of the returning players who contributed to the ream’s rich history.

For the most part this season, those classy video tributes have gone over well, and the “Legends Nights” have been tremendous hits with fans eager to relive the franchise’s glory days. Why, even former superstar point guard Penny Hardaway, who left the franchise on a sour note in 1999 and was booed for years, received a loud, emotion-filled ovation when he returned in February.

The tenor of Wednesday night’s video tribute will largely be left up to the fans who will undoubtedly pack the Amway Center. Will they continue to boo and spew venom toward Dwight Howard? Or could it be that the passing of time, and the passing of Howard’s desire to play for the hated Los Angeles Lakers, will cause the fans to soften on the Houston Rockets all-star center? And will there ever be a time – granted, Wednesday night might still be too soon – when all that Howard did in Orlando will be recognized by a fan base that adored him for seven of his eight years in Orlando?”

Howard also knew that getting booed (which is what happened) was a possibility judging from his quote to NBA.com:

“Last year was a little bit fresh with a lot of Magic fans. They were really upset with how things went down. But at the end of the day time deals all wounds,” Howard said Wednesday night before his Houston Rockets faced the Magic at the Amway Center. “Even though it’s only been a year, I’ve forgiven the people that I needed to forgive. Hopefully the fans can forgive me for how the situation ended. But my love for the city will never change.”

There is no doubt that Howard is an NBA player who is chasing rings and just not having as much luck as LeBron James. Time heals all wounds and Magic fans will no doubt refrain from booing Howard someday upon his return. He did lead the team to the NBA Finals. Wednesday may have just been too soon.

Dwight Howard’s current team, the Rockets defeated the Magic 101-89 on Wednesday.