Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard - 2025 Hall of Fame Class
image caption Apr 10, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony (7) (left) and center Dwight Howard (39) (right) cheer during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, two of their generation's best players, will be inducted into the 2025 Hall of Fame Class. No doubt, both are deserving of this honor as bona fide superstar talents in their playing days.
Anthony, one of the purest scorers of his generation, built a resume defined by elite offensive production and Olympic dominance. Howard, meanwhile, commanded the paint as the league’s most dominant big man during his prime, racking up three Defensive Player of the Year awards, rebounding titles, and leading the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals.
While each carved out a Hall of Fame career, who ultimately had the better NBA career? To answer that, we’ll break down their achievements, influence, and long-term impact on the league.
NBA Championships
Carmelo Anthony: 0
Dwight Howard: 1 (2020)
Carmelo Anthony, despite his scoring brilliance and long career, was never able to capture an NBA championship, with his deepest playoff run coming in 2009 with the Denver Nuggets. While not entirely his fault since Melo played in the difficult Western Conference and later in the East with the New York Knicks, he did receive blame for not being able to lead a team deep into the postseason very often.
Dwight Howard, on the other hand, secured a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 as a valuable veteran role player, adding the ultimate team accomplishment to his resume and giving him a clear edge in this category. While Dwight wasn't the "man" during this run, he was invaluable as a supporting player to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Advantage: Dwight Howard
Finals MVP Awards
Carmelo Anthony: 0
Dwight Howard: 0
Carmelo never reached the NBA Finals, leaving him without an opportunity to contend for a Finals MVP. Had the Nuggets or Knicks made the Finals and won a title, Anthony would have been the likely candidate to hoist a Finals MVP award, but we will never come close to knowing what would have happened.
Dwight, though he reached the Finals in 2009 with Orlando and later won a title in 2020, also did not capture the award, as the honor went to LeBron James. Dwight was just happy to win an NBA title, so perhaps it doesn't affect his career outlook. Neither holds an advantage here.
Advantage: Even
MVP Awards
Carmelo Anthony: 0
Dwight Howard: 0
Carmelo Anthony was often in the conversation for MVP during his prime, especially in 2013 when he won the scoring title, but he never managed to secure the award. The closest Anthony came to winning the MVP came in the 2012-13 season as he finished third behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Dwight Howard, similarly, was a dominant force during his Orlando years and finished top-three in MVP voting multiple times, with his highest finish coming in 2010-11 when he finished second behind Derrick Rose. But he also never earned the league’s most prestigious individual award, leaving this category even.
Advantage: Even
Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)
Carmelo Anthony: 0
Dwight Howard: 3 (2009, 2010, 2011)
Carmelo’s career was defined by offense, and he was never considered a serious contender for Defensive Player of the Year. Anthony also never made an All-Defensive Team and was sometimes dubbed an inconsistent defender. We think his defense wasn't as bad as some might make it seem, but the clear winner in this category is Howard.
Dwight built much of his legacy on defense, winning three straight DPOY awards from 2009 to 2011, cementing his status as one of the most dominant rim protectors and rebounders in NBA history. He is, without a doubt, the best defender of his generation, and he easily takes this category.
Advantage: Dwight Howard
Scoring Titles
Carmelo Anthony: 1 (2013)
Dwight Howard: 0
Carmelo Anthony’s offensive reputation was validated when he won the 2013 scoring title, averaging 28.7 points per game and proving himself as the league’s most unstoppable scorer that season. He also had seven seasons scoring at least 25 points per game and is, without a doubt, one of the greatest pure scorers in NBA history.
Dwight Howard, as a center, never claimed a scoring title, with his impact coming more from inside dominance and efficiency rather than raw scoring volume, giving Melo the advantage in this regard.
Advantage: Carmelo Anthony
All-Star Selections
Carmelo Anthony: 10
Dwight Howard: 8
Carmelo Anthony was a perennial All-Star, earning 10 selections across his career and becoming a fixture at the midseason showcase thanks to his scoring flair and popularity with fans. He made three selections with the Nuggets and seven with the Knicks, indicating how his prime spanned over these two franchises.
Dwight Howard, despite fewer overall nods with eight, was also consistently recognized during his prime as one of the most dominant big men in the game. He made six selections during his prime with the Magic, one with the Lakers, and one with the Rockets, although Carmelo holds the numerical edge.
Advantage: Carmelo Anthony
All-NBA Selections
Carmelo Anthony: 6 (2 Second Team, 4 Third Team)
Dwight Howard: 8 (5 First Team, 1 Second Team, 2 Third Team)
Carmelo Anthony earned six All-NBA selections, reflecting his consistency as one of the league’s best forwards for over a decade. It is interesting how Anthony never made the First Team, although it might make sense considering the forward positions were always held down by the likes of LeBron James, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Durant.
Dwight Howard, however, earned eight All-NBA selections, including five First Team honors during his prime, showing a higher peak and greater recognition among the league’s elite. Dwight was a shoo-in for the center position because he was the premier center in the league for the majority of his prime.
Advantage: Dwight Howard
All-Defensive Team Selections
Carmelo Anthony: 0
Dwight Howard: 5
Carmelo never made an All-Defensive Team, as his game was never known for defensive impact. Anthony had the strength to stay with bigger players in the post and was always willing to contest shots on defense, but he wasn't a stopper by any means.
Dwight, by contrast, earned five All-Defensive Team selections, further underscoring his dominance as an anchor in the paint and one of the best defensive players of his era. When it comes to defense, Dwight did it better than almost everyone during his era, although we are surprised he didn't make more All-Defensive Team selections.
Advantage: Dwight Howard
Olympic Gold Medals
Carmelo Anthony: 3 (2008, 2012, 2016)
Dwight Howard: 1 (2008)
Carmelo Anthony thrived on the international stage, becoming the most decorated Olympic basketball player in U.S. history with three gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016) and a bronze in 2004. He was also the leading scorer for Team USA at one point before Kevin Durant shattered the record.
Dwight Howard contributed to Team USA’s gold medal run in 2008 as the starting center, but his Olympic resume pales in comparison to Melo’s historic international career. Anthony was more available and is one of the most iconic Team USA members in history.
Advantage: Carmelo Anthony
Win Shares
Carmelo Anthony: 108.5
Dwight Howard: 141.7
Carmelo Anthony finished his career with 108.5 win shares, a strong mark reflecting his scoring consistency and offensive value, though his lack of defensive impact lowered the overall total. In fact, Anthony's career win shares rank 76th in NBA history despite him being one of the greatest scorers ever.
Dwight Howard, meanwhile, amassed 141.7 win shares, benefiting from his two-way dominance, rebounding, and efficiency, which made him more valuable by this metric. Dwight's mark impressively ranks 32nd all-time, and he easily takes the edge here.
Advantage: Dwight Howard
Career PER
Carmelo Anthony: 19.5
Dwight Howard: 21.3
Carmelo Anthony posted a career PER of 19.5, reflecting his elite scoring ability but more limited contributions elsewhere on the floor. Anthony's career PER ranks 104th in NBA history, and while advanced stats don't tell the entire story of a player's dominance, it is interesting to see him ranked quite low.
Dwight Howard’s career PER of 21.2 (55th all-time) demonstrates his greater efficiency and impact in multiple areas, from defense to rebounding to scoring inside, giving him the advantage in this efficiency-based statistic. No surprise, the most all-around player gets a higher PER score.
Advantage: Dwight Howard
Final Score
Dwight Howard vs. Carmelo Anthony 6-3
In the end, the head-to-head comparison gives Dwight Howard the edge over Carmelo Anthony, 6-3. While Anthony was unquestionably the better scorer, with unmatched shot-making ability and one of the smoothest offensive bags of his era, Howard’s career stands out as more dominant and complete.
At his peak, Howard was the undisputed best center in the NBA, capable of carrying a franchise to the 2009 Finals, winning three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards, and stacking up All-NBA and All-Defensive honors. During their primes, Dwight was also the best player at his position by far, while Anthony shared that title with LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Anthony’s brilliance on the international stage makes him the more decorated Olympic player, but when it comes to the NBA stage, Howard’s superior accolades, efficiency, and ability to impact both ends of the floor solidify his case as the player with the better overall career.