Last year, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in blocked shots and rebounds in the same season twice – and for two seasons in a row.
Today, he was named as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the 2010-11 season to become the first player to win the award in three straight seasons.
Only Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo has more with four awards each.
Dwight Howard is only 25 years old and will certainly earn more before his career is over barring any injuries.
Howard led the NBA with 66 double-doubles, including six 20-point/20-rebound efforts, while ranking second in rebounds (14.1 rpg) and fourth in blocks (2.38 bpg). He also was the defensive anchor of a team that was ranked fourth in the regular season, giving up 93.7 points per game to opponents.
Howard who was named a starter the 2011 NBA All-Star game last February received 585 points, including 114 first-place votes, from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters.
Voting was not even close as Boston’s Kevin Garnett who finished second only got 1 first-place vote and a total of 77 points. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received.
As the winner, Howard received a 2011 Kia Sorento crossover, which he promptly donated to the Beta Center in Orlando.
Here’s the man talking about being named the 2011 NBA Defensive Player of the Year:
Here’s his Top 10 Plays of the 2010-11 NBA season showing his defensive and offensive skills:
