3. Superman
Dwight Howard would not pick up the Superman moniker for another two years when he appeared at the Slam Dunk contest. At this point, Howard was a third-year player still looking to make a name for himself in the league.
Howard then was raw athleticism. The instructions for him were simple, be near the basket, defend and clean up misses. Howard’s post game was very rudimentary and the Magic were playing him while still developing him slowly.
But the Magic were beginning to expect more from him. He made his first All Star team. And the Magic were relevant for the first time in his career.
“Dwight Howard had to go up and touch the clouds over Timmy and get it one-handed and put it in. It was a remarkable play.” — Spurs guard Brent Barry to the Orlando Sentinel
All the potential he had that season as the Magic made the Playoffs for the first time since Tracy McGrady’s departure. And no win was more monumental for Howard and the Magic than this February win over the vaunted San Antonio Spurs.
It was a sign the team was for real. And the way it happened was simply astonishing.
With 0.8 seconds left, Hedo Turkoglu inbounded the ball and found Dwight Howard high above the rim to put it down and dunk the game winner. It was everything that made Dwight Howard great in so many ways.
And it was a moment of pure euphoria for the team. A preview of the dunking to come from Howard later on that month.