LeBron James once said, “Legacy will speak for itself.” Well, today, Dwight Howard’s legacy did exactly that. In Orlando, under the bright lights, with every camera locked in, Howard finally sealed his basketball story, becoming a Hall of Famer. For him and his fans, this moment was a long time coming. And as he stood on that stage, he made sure to show love to the players who helped him get there. One name he couldn’t leave out? The late Brandon Hunter. But when Howard brought him up, things took an unexpected turn. Let’s just say… he might’ve accidentally ruffled Mike Tyson’s feathers.
Hunter shared the court with Dwight Howard for one year during the latter’s rookie year at Magic. He’d play 31 games before he moved to compete internationally. Yet, in the little time they shared together, Hunter left a mark. “Brandon Hunter, I’ll never forget him,” the 8x All-Star started. But as he proceeded to speak of one instance, Howard turned what could have been a tearful moment into one of hilarity.
“First day in the locker room, at practice, he just said he liked to rebound and have fun. And I’ll never forget that, this big guy with a tiny little voice… like Mike Tyson.” Oh boy.
The moment those words left his mouth, he knew he messed up. Realizing the blunder, Howard went into damage control. “I love you, Mike Tyson! I hope you don’t hear that,” he quickly added, probably half-joking, half-praying. The entire room erupted in laughter including Howard himself. But just when everyone thought the moment had peaked, the Magic star wasn’t done.
Like many, Howard hasn’t been a fan of the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul showdown. Even before the two had taken to the stage, the 2020 champion had predicted an ill fate for the boxing legend. But that was largely due to Tyson being 70 and Paul steamrolling through wins just prior. “If he hit Mike Tyson one time, he might knock him out…” he had said. And when he actually caught the action? Disappointment.
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Now, don’t mistake. The 3x DPOY has been a massive fan of Tyson growing up. But that is precisely the reason he couldn’t stand watching the 70-year-old face defeat. Howard hadn’t been able to process that Tyson wasn’t throwing in more punches and putting up a fight. “Man, he [Mike Tyson] was biting this glove the whole night,” he had sighed on Entirely NBA podcast after the matchup which saw the heavyweight champion fall to the 28-year-old in a unanimous decision (80-72, 79-73 and 79-73).
Now months in, Howard went there again. A step further this time. He tugged on a string he probably shouldn’t have. “Well, I might beat you now Mike Tyson. I have seen you fight Jake Paul,” he said during his speech.
That was quite bold. But provoking a sleeping lion right after winning the Hall Of Fame is really not the best idea. Sure, Howard’s in great shape, but taking on The Mike Tyson? Yeah… that’s not happening anytime soon.
Dwight Howard shows respect for coach Stan Van Gundy in his HOF speech
For years, the Internet has seen Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy as a duo that could never sit together. Their history was marked by tension, especially after April 5, 2012, when then-Orlando Magic coach Van Gundy publicly confirmed that Howard had asked management to fire him. “When it comes out that one of the highest-profile guys in the league has asked his coach to be fired, it’s going to be a story,” Van Gundy stated at the time. He made it clear that he was “uncomfortable with BS” and stood firm on his version of events.
Howard, however, always maintained that the situation was overblown. And as time passed, so did the hostility. But during his Hall of Fame speech, Howard made sure to acknowledge Van Gundy’s impact on his career. “Stan meant a lot to me, you guys. If it wasn’t for Stan, there wouldn’t be Dwight,” Howard said. “I know we had a falling out and we had some disagreements, but Stan was my little guy. He pushed me. He held me accountable for everything, and it really helped me with my life.”
Howard went on to credit Van Gundy’s meticulous coaching style for his own growth. “One thing I learned from Stan was preparation. He had us prepared for everything… And that preparation led us to a lot of success.”
At the end of the day, time has a way of bringing things full circle. What was once a public rift is now a chapter of growth and mutual respect. Howard’s words proved that despite their past, the bond between coach and player remained.
The post Dwight Howard Unwilling to Spare Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul Unintentionally Triggers Hilarious Statement appeared first on EssentiallySports.
