When it comes to measuring greatness, the names Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James are destined to share the same conversation. Their careers stand as monuments to both longevity and dominance, though their relationship has never been especially warm. Thanks to Dwight Howard, the debate has picked up new sparks.
During his Hall of Fame speech, Howard made no secret of where his loyalties lie. He declared Kareem the greatest of all time while LeBron sat only a few feet away. James gave little away, his only reaction being a thoughtful stroke of the beard as the cameras zoomed in.
That moment soon resurfaced on Howard’s own podcast, Above the Rim with DH12. There, the former Lakers big man doubled down on his stance but added a playful twist at LeBron’s expense.
“I’ll call LeBron the GOAT when he pulls a Kareem, changes his name, and plays another twenty years,” Howard joked.
For those who know the history, Kareem’s journey began under the name Lew Alcindor. As Alcindor, he tore through college basketball, then entered the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks, winning Rookie of the Year in 1970 and leading the team to a championship the following season. His dominance was already the stuff of legend before he ever changed his name.
After converting to Islam in 1971, Alcindor became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and his second act turned out even greater. With the Lakers, he added five more championships, five MVP trophies, and set the all-time scoring record that stood until 2023, when LeBron finally surpassed him.
Howard sees that as an unmatched accomplishment. “Kareem had two Hall of Fame careers under two names,” he explained. “Alcindor could’ve gone into Springfield by himself. Then you look at what Kareem did after the name change. That’s two careers most players would dream of.”
Never one to shy away from a laugh, Howard even toyed with the idea of doing the same himself. “Maybe I should change my name and come back. Dwight Howard turns into DM Motivator,” he quipped.
It was a lighthearted jab, but the message was clear. For Howard, Kareem’s legacy has an extra layer of mystique that keeps him one step above LeBron. Whether or not fans agree, the debate lives on, fueled by humor, history, and two careers that refuse to fade.
