Dwight Howard

Howard's Superman persona — established at the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest when he dunked while wearing a Superman cape — became one of the most recognizable athlete branding moments of the 2000s decade.

His free-throw shooting struggles led opposing coaches to develop 'Hack-a-Howard' as a systematic late-game tactic — deliberately fouling him to exchange his 57% free throws for what would otherwise be high-percentage interior opportunities.

Howard is one of only three players in NBA history to win three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards, joining Bill Russell and the award's modern-era standard-setters.

He won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 — the bubble title — more than a decade after his peak Magic years, providing a championship resolution to a career whose Orlando chapter ended in acrimony.