Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard passed Manute Bol for 15th on the all-time blocked shots list during Sunday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks:
Congrats to @DwightHoward of the @Lakers for moving up to 15th on the all-time BLOCKS list! #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/fq0N1q0wXO
— NBA (@NBA) December 15, 2019
Howard is within striking distance of both Shawn Bradley and Ben Wallace, and he could very well climb to 13th on the all-time list before the end of the season.
The three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has been a welcome surprise for the Lakers. Los Angeles signed Howard to fill the void left by a season-ending injury suffered by DeMarcus Cousins during the summer, and “D12” has been about as good in his role as anyone on that team.
Howard entered Sunday's game averaging 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in just under 20 minutes per game, equating to a per-36 line of 12.1 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. He and fellow big man JaVale McGee have given the Lakers vital contributions alongside the sensational performances of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Needless to say, this second stint with the Lakers has been quite a bit better than the first go around. The Lakers acquired Howard ahead of the 2012-13 season in an effort to create a “super team” and pair the dominant big with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.
Dwight Howard–while still effective–never quite clicked with his Laker teammates. The Lakers were bounced in the first round of the playoffs after Kobe suffered an Achilles injury late in the year, and Howard left Hollywood to join the Houston Rockets the following summer.
A first-round exit would be stunning if it happened this year. The Lakers were 23-3 entering play on Sunday, and they are a favorite to win the NBA title.
Follow Us
Subscribe