“I still have Kareem as my GOAT”: Dwight Howard snubs Michael Jordan and LeBron James with bold pick that shakes up the GOAT debate

The GOAT debate is a never-ending conversation in basketball circles—one that almost always comes down to Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Fans argue, generations divide, and highlight reels fuel the fire.

But as Dwight Howard gets ready to enter the Hall of Fame, he’s throwing a curveball into the mix. Instead of picking MJ or LeBron, Howard is shining the spotlight on a legend who often gets overlooked: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In Howard’s eyes, the man with the skyhook is the true greatest of all time—and he’s not shy about saying it.

Dwight Howard backs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the true GOAT in all-time NBA debate

Dwight Howard, never one to hold back, didn’t hesitate when asked about his pick for the greatest of all time.

Rather than echoing the usual Jordan vs. LeBron debate, he spotlighted a name he feels doesn’t get the credit he deserves: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.“I still have Kareem as my GOAT,” he said. “I don’t know why people don’t talk about him like that.”It’s a fair question—and one that’s echoed by more than a few former players. While Michael Jordan had the flair and LeBron James boasts all-around versatility, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar built a resume that, in terms of pure achievement, stands taller than nearly anyone in the history of the sport.

From the start, Kareem was different. In high school, he led Power Memorial Academy to a staggering 79–2 record. At UCLA, he was even more dominant, winning three national championships and forcing the NCAA to ban dunking to level the playing field. Then came the NBA: six titles, six MVPs, and nearly four decades as the league’s all-time scoring leader until LeBron broke the record in 2023.“As far as strictly basketball,” Howard said, “what he did from high school, college, NBA—you can’t name too many people who got a better career than him.”Howard also pointed to Kareem’s legacy beyond the stat sheet. “He had two names to do it with,” he added, referencing Kareem’s name change after converting to Islam in 1971. “He killed with one name, then came back and did it again with another name. And he don’t get talked about. So I guess it’s 'cause he’s a big man.”

And Howard would know. He spent nearly two decades dominating the paint, winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards and anchoring some of the league’s best defenses—yet rarely finds himself mentioned in the same breath as the game's flashier stars.

His praise for Kareem feels as much a reflection of his own journey as it does a genuine effort to give one of basketball’s true icons his overdue credit.Also Read: LeBron James or Kobe Bryant? Dwight Howard’s shocking pick in the legendary NBA debate between his two former teammatesThe GOAT conversation will always be subjective, shaped by generations, emotions, and highlight reels. But if the measure is basketball in its purest form—consistent winning, impact at every level, and longevity at the top—then Dwight Howard believes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar deserves more than a passing mention. As Howard heads to Springfield with a Hall of Fame career of his own, he’s asking fans to take another look at a forgotten giant—and reconsider who really belongs at the top of the game.