Durable Dwight?

[ben_cats_fan]

I had a look at Dwight Howard's profile on NBA.com today and what shocked me was how durable this guy is.

2004-05 - 82 games
2005-06 - 82 games
2006-07 - 86 games (incl 4 playoff appearances)
2007-08 - 92 games (incl 10 playoff appearances)
2008-09 - 95 games* (incl 16 playoff appearances)
Total - 437 games out of a possible 438 since his debut.

What's more, he started in all but ONE of the games he has played in! (in 2005-06)

Call me a n00b, I've not really been that interested in the NBA for terribly long! I don't support the magic either, though I do have a soft spot for this team. But has there been many cases of someone playing so many games in the first 5 years of their career, missing so few in the process?

In a day and age where so many sports people break down with so many injuries, it seems to me the Howard is as durable as they come!

 

[aaronm46]

Thats a pretty good stat, i know there wouldnt be too many like that

 

[realsniper09]

That's quite amazing.

Given that he is a big man as well, who tend to miss quite a few games, it just shows you how valuable Dwight is. Garnett is the other one who pops into mind who just didn't miss any games, until this year that is.

Duncan and Dirk's record are also very good, but other big men don't fare nearly as well.

Camby, Yao, Stoudemire, Bosh, Dalembert, West, Gasol, Nene, Bynum, Brand, Jefferson, Miller, Okafor, Kaman, Okafor, J O'Neal, Boozer, Bogut, Big Z and even Shaq in his heyday, all miss chunks of time on a pretty regular basis so durable big men are actually quite valuable given a big % of them miss a lot of time.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

The reason is simple - he's too busy fouling out each game and thus can preserve his body over such a long season

 

[Theeighthhamster]

It's rare for 7 footers and I know he likes to call himself one but didn't he measure about 6'9" barefoot when drafted? He's probably not much bigger than Karl Malone and he didn't miss many games.

 

[bomberz08]

It's rare for 7 footers and I know he likes to call himself one but didn't he measure about 6'9" barefoot when drafted? He's probably not much bigger than Karl Malone and he didn't miss many games.

He may have only been a little bit taller height wise than karl, but dwight has a much larger frame than the mailman. Still can't believe tha stat, ultra durable

 

[Theeighthhamster]

He may have only been a little bit taller height wise than karl, but dwight has a much larger frame than the mailman. Still can't believe tha stat, ultra durable

Much larger? Karl was a big boy.

 

[maryjames]

dwight big game to get into the finals, 40 plus, well lead.

 

[WALL-e]

He played playoffs last year with a broken sternum.

 

[aaronm46]

So the game he missed was the Playoff match against Philly this playoffs? His streak wouldve been 400+ then

 

[peternorth]

imagine his streak ends now?

 

[WALL-e]

Nope, missed 1 (maybe 2) regular season game/s.

 

[Altum Volantes]

He may have only been a little bit taller height wise than karl, but dwight has a much larger frame than the mailman. Still can't believe tha stat, ultra durable

Karl Malone was an absolute tank!

 

[XFactor1979]

oh! to be that man's shoulders

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

oh! to be that man's shoulders

err...