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The whole “Dwight Howard finally won a championship in Orlando” thing got old really quick.
But Howard’s journey from superstar to nomad to punchline to champion has been a long and unexpected one, which is why a player who logged only a few seconds of playing time in the Lakers’ championship clinching win was trending on Twitter last night.
These “Twitter reacts...” stories are typically reserved for noteworthy or viral moments for the Magic (like we last did for the return of Jonathan Isaac....sigh).
Like it or not, Dwight winning his first championship 16 years after he was drafted by Orlando, as he played alongside a legend he denied a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals, while playing for the team that denied him a championship that same year, is a noteworthy footnote in Magic history.
So before we get to some Magic offseason content, let’s look at how Twitter reacted to Dwight Howard finally winning a championship.
As always, the tweets speak for themselves....
Took like 20 years and like nine different teams, but Dwight Howard has finally won an NBA championship in Orlando
— Orlando Pinstriped Post (@OPPMagicBlog) October 12, 2020
The #Magic tradition continues pic.twitter.com/qL8XFIv2pF
— Luke Hetrick (@LHSportsTV) October 12, 2020
CELEBRATE MAGIC FANS, DWIGHT HOWARD HAS WON A RING IN ORLANDO pic.twitter.com/1UmsRrXapL
— (@Three_Cone) October 12, 2020
In Year 16, first-time champ with the
— NBA (@NBA) October 12, 2020
the @Lakers... Dwight Howard! #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/ZsJnJRYDsi
Dwight Howard, NBA Champion pic.twitter.com/XXRWHr0RMV
— SB Nation NBA (@SBNationNBA) October 12, 2020
champ. @dwighthoward @teacooper2 pic.twitter.com/2tgyDOIl2t
— NBA Bubble Life (@NBABubbleLife) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard. A must listen.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 12, 2020
So happy for him. pic.twitter.com/mBTzPoRBPl
I apologize to @DwightHoward. Way to redeem yourself in our eyes. Congratulations big dawg. You were beastly. Our enforcer. Stay focused. Played big. Won the chip.
— O’Shea Jack(Nichol)son (@OsheaJacksonJr) October 12, 2020
If you’d told me in 2009 that LeBron James would one day lead the Lakers to a championship, with Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo as teammates, I’d have told you you’re nuts.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) October 12, 2020
LeBron hugging Rondo then hugging Dwight Howard to celebrate championships in Lakers jerseys is some wild stuff to try to explain to someone ten years ago
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) October 12, 2020
so yeah the lakers won, but is no one going to acknowledge Dwight Howard hitting a LOGO 3???? pic.twitter.com/wmA6duVK1D
— Dominick (@Leafboy21) October 12, 2020
The last Lakers basket of a championship season being a Dwight Howard three is so 2020
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) October 12, 2020
dwight howard hitting that 3 at the end of the game pic.twitter.com/qEPS7PQ1Xy
— dicc-fil-a (@probablynick_) October 12, 2020
How it started How it ended pic.twitter.com/Km0EPeNJXd
— Simon Dharmakirthi (@airbender106) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard really about to get a free ring pic.twitter.com/ZHE6kOJyH5
— long live the king (@kiptheqik) October 12, 2020
Goodmorning, Dwight Howard is an NBA Champion! (13 year old me ) pic.twitter.com/SsalFRkIEO
— Grant (@GGProCH) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard got a ring as a Laker now go explain to someone in 2012 how it happened.
— Cam (@Cam_Is_Like) October 12, 2020
Champion pic.twitter.com/Ju0EJSshR4
— Be Magic Or Be Gone! (@BeORLMagic) October 12, 2020
“Brothers fight, argue even hate each other at times. But we never stop loving each other. I love you, WE love you... This season is dedicated To Kobe . ”
— The Laker Files (@LakerFiles) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard delivers his promise to Kobe ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vHzRzGSo4V
Dwight Howard winning an NBA Championship with the Lakers in ORLANDO the same year Kobe Bryant passed is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/yrgZfsajBb
— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard's redemption story is complete pic.twitter.com/fFMejHDWWA
— Basketball Forever (@Bballforeverfb) October 12, 2020
DWIGHT HOWARD REDEMPTION ARC COMPLETE
— NBA CHAMPION ALEX CARUSO (@Lil_Ceeeee) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard... Congratulations on Redeeming yourself, and finally becoming a NBA Champion. pic.twitter.com/aNWeZAqU21
— FlightMike (@TheFlightMike) October 12, 2020
LeBron James’ 2020 and Kobe Bryant’s 2009 are almost EXACTLY the same
— NBA Buzz (@OfficialNBABuzz) October 12, 2020
The only difference? Kobe played against Dwight Howard in the Finals. LeBron James won WITH Dwight.
This is wild... pic.twitter.com/vGbP5s3SI2
Dwight Howard adds NBA champ to his resume ✔️ pic.twitter.com/IG670a42bq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 12, 2020
Not the way I pictured Dwight Howard bringing a championship to Orlando....
— Jeff WeltGawd (@MagicMan816) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard wins a championship in his second stint with the Lakers playing in Orlando
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 12, 2020
Life really comes full circle.
LeBron James, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard winning a championship together.
— Daniel Theis Fanclub (@Theis_Fanclub) October 12, 2020
Who would've thought. pic.twitter.com/mVRw3Hk1DX
Dwight Howard just won his first ring and gets to go home to her pic.twitter.com/ec2gKu762n
— Mevlana (@HollywoodMev) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard telling LeBron “we got one” wrecked me.
— Silver Screen & Roll (@LakersSBN) October 12, 2020
LeBron has never been more relatable than when Dwight Howard yelled "WE GOT ONE!" in some weird doofus cartoon voice in his ear and he just immediately broke the hug and turned away
— Werebert Halloweenko (@AlbertBurneko) October 12, 2020
congratulations to dwight howard and the gaggle of no-account bums he dragged to an nba title
— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard just won an NBA title. Yes, it’s 2020.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) October 12, 2020
Dwight Howard wins a ring with the Lakers, just like I was hoping ... eight years ago.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 12, 2020
I’m a little disappointed that Dwight Howard couldn’t be in this picture but at least he still was able to get a ring #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/MJSjfvCPIm
— Laugh Entertainment (@Laughent21) October 12, 2020
Bron got Dion Waiters, Dwight Howard and Kuz a ring.... He needs a Humanitarian Award too
— Mal (@Ma1J) October 12, 2020
my favorite narrative that died tonight is that lebron dont make nobody better because i aint seen dwight howard take basketball serious in years
— (@JayZOverrted) October 12, 2020
Sometimes the roads we take are the ones of our choosing, but sometimes destiny sends us back to where we always belonged.
— Vinay Killawala (@vkillem) October 12, 2020
I'm proud of you @DwightHoward pic.twitter.com/bdJ2u8cAmf
Dwight Howard on his journey here: “It humbled me and forced me to continue to get better... I was very thankful to get another opportunity to play for the Lakers... I just wanted to give every single minute on the court, off the court, locker room.. give 110 percent.” pic.twitter.com/pmD4UbQCyG
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) October 12, 2020
Gotta update Dwight Howard’s resume. He an NBA Champion now!
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) October 12, 2020
Happy for him, three years ago folks thought he was done. He reinvented his game and now he is solidified. Love to see it. Great dude. pic.twitter.com/ckirJjaUFs
And put some respect on Dwight Howard’s career.
— yes (@iAmTerrace) October 12, 2020
That’s the tweet.
The celebration has begun!!
— ShowtimeForum (@ShowtimeForum) October 12, 2020
Via Dwight Howard IG pic.twitter.com/G3HJ1ureML
I’m so happy for Dwight Howard, man. Certified Hall of Famer. One of the best centers of our generation.
— Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels) October 12, 2020
Redemption story for @DwightHoward
— Kobe Bryant Lakers Murals (@kobemurals) October 12, 2020
A tale of two Lakers NBA finals series pic.twitter.com/iXraoHXunw
LeBron James walks into Dwight Howard’s press conference and laughs: “Where your clothes at?!”
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) October 12, 2020
Howard rocking Larry O’Brien trophy shorts. pic.twitter.com/R2bxlcqTz8
Dwight Howard be like... pic.twitter.com/788os3K1ZA
— Michał Wirkus (@MichalAWirkus) October 12, 2020
Magic fans realizing Dwight Howard won a championship in Orlando but for the Lakers pic.twitter.com/lNBf19E1yP
— Rick (@RaidersLakers) October 12, 2020
Go back in time and tell Magic fans Dwight Howard wins a championship in Orlando just to be a dick
— Dom2K (@Dom_2k) October 12, 2020
OPP “Twitter reacts...” Archive
Twitter reacts to the return of Jonathan Isaac
Twitter reacts to the Magic’s cameo on “The Last Dance”
Twitter reacts to Aaron Gordon losing the Dunk Contest
Twitter reacts to the Magic’s win over the Lakers
Twitter reacts to Markelle Fultz scoring a career-high
Twitter reacts to the return of Markelle Fultz
Twitter reacts to the Magic’s Game 1 win over the Raptors
Twitter reacts to the Magic making the playoffs
Twitter reacts to the Markelle Fultz trade
Twitter reacts to Nikola Vucevic making the All-Star team
Twitter reacts to the Magic drafting Mo Bamba
Twitter reacts to the Magic hiring Steve Clifford
Twitter reacts to Frank Vogel getting fired