PRIME AD VS PRIME DWIGHT HOWARD

Dwight’s Edge: He was an iron man. In his first 8 seasons, he missed only 19 games. He was arguably the most physically dominant force since Shaq, capable of anchoring a top-tier defense entirely by himself.
AD’s Edge: His “bag” is much deeper. AD is a three-level scorer who can hit mid-range jumpers and free throws at an elite rate, making him much harder to “hack” or scheme against in crunch time.

DEFENSIVE IMPACT: THE “WALL” VS. THE “ERASER”

Dwight Howard: He is one of only two players to win three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards. He didn’t just block shots; he altered the entire geometry of the court. Teams simply stopped driving to the rim when Dwight was there.
Anthony Davis: While AD hasn’t won a DPOY (many argue he should have in 2020), he is a more versatile defender. He can “switch” onto guards like Steph Curry or James Harden on the perimeter, whereas Dwight was strictly a drop-coverage rim protector.

Dwight led the 2009 Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals as the undisputed #1 option, famously beating LeBron James and the 66-win Cavs in the process.
AD won his ring as a “1B” next to LeBron. While his 2020 playoff run was historically efficient, critics often point out that he struggled to lead the Pelicans deep into the playoffs as the sole superstar.

Metric	Dwight Howard (2011)	Anthony Davis (2018)	Why it matters
Win Shares	14.4	13.7	Dwight was more directly responsible for his team’s wins.
Defensive Rating	94	104	A lower number is better; Dwight’s impact was historically elite.
PER	26.1	28.9	Davis is statistically more “efficient” across the board.
Usage Rate	27.2%	32.9%	AD handles the ball and finishes way more possessions.

Category	Anthony Davis	Dwight Howard	The Context
Points	59	45	AD’s 59-point game included 20 made field goals and two 3-pointers.
Rebounds	26	30	Dwight is one of the few modern players to ever record a 30/30 game.
Blocks	10	10	Both have reached the “triple-double with blocks” milestone.
Steals	7	5	AD’s 7 steals (achieved in 2024) highlight his elite perimeter mobility.
Assists	11	7	AD acts as a playmaker more often, whereas Dwight was a pure finisher.
Off. Rebounds	10	11	Both were elite at second-chance opportunities in their prime.