Dwight Howard’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was more than a celebration of stats and accolades, it was a heartfelt tribute to the people who shaped his journey. And no one received more love than his former coach, Stan Van Gundy.
During his speech, Howard turned to Van Gundy with sincerity and a touch of his signature humor:
“Because of you, I am in the Hall of Fame. As I’ve said before, there is no Dwight Howard without Stan Van Gundy.”
The crowd responded with warm applause, recognizing the bond between the dominant center and his fiery former coach from their Orlando Magic days. But Howard didn’t stop there, he launched into a hilarious memory that had the room laughing:
“I still remember, in the playoffs, you had us doing plays for guys who never even got in the game.”
Dwight Howard impersonated his former coach Stan Van Gundy at the HOF ceremony 🤣 pic.twitter.com/DnCiOfN5yR
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 7, 2025
Howard expands on how Van Gundy taught him discipline, preparation, and what it meant to “stay ready”, even when the plays didn’t make sense.
Though their time together wasn’t without friction, most famously during a 2012 press conference where Howard awkwardly denied wanting Van Gundy fired while the coach confirmed it, the years have softened the edges. Howard’s tribute made clear that whatever drama existed, the respect endured.
“I learned so much from you,” Howard continued. “You pushed me to be better, to be accountable, and to lead. Even when I didn’t understand the plays, I understood the purpose.”
Van Gundy, who has long advocated for Howard’s inclusion in the NBA’s Top 75 list, and has previously passionately defended Howard’s legacy and impact on the game.
@.entirelynba Stan Van Gundy on why Dwight Howard is a TOP 75 Player #fyp #foryou #nba #dwighthoward #orlandomagic #nbabasketball #nbahighlights #nbamoments #viral #nbaviral #nbatiktok #nbaedits #basketball🏀 ♬ original sound – Entirely NBA
As the ceremony concluded, Howard and Van Gundy embraced, two men who once clashed under the pressure of championship expectations, now united by the shared journey that brought them to basketball’s highest honor.
