"His basketball IQ is not up to speed" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on why he didn't see Dwight Howard as a dominant player

“His basketball IQ is not up to speed” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on why he didn’t see Dwight Howard as a dominant player originally appeared on Basketball Network.

When you think about the most famous critics Dwight Howard faced during his NBA career, Shaquille O’Neal — both feuded for years — likely comes to mind first.

Interestingly, though, O’Neal wasn’t the only Los Angeles Lakers legend to criticize Howard. Back in 2013, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also took his turn, not holding back in the slightest during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take.

Strength isn’t enough

In the early to mid-2010s, soon-to-be Hall of Famer Howard was defined by his imposing physical presence. Religiously hitting the weight room, his 6’10” frame was built like a bodybuilder’s, every muscle sharply defined.

However, while that might have turned heads at the beach, it was, according to Abdul-Jabbar, less impressive in terms of basketball.

Following the belief that raw strength alone doesn’t make a great player, the Lakers legend acknowledged Howard’s “incredible athletic ability” but stressed that the most important muscle for an NBA player is “the one between your ears.”

Of course, Kareem was referring to basketball IQ, which, in his view, the then-seven-time All-Star, who had recently joined the Houston Rockets, lacked significantly.

“Dwight’s basketball IQ is not up to speed for him to be a dominant player,” said the now 78-year-old.

While Abdul-Jabbar didn’t elaborate, it’s safe to assume that at least one figure, Steve Nash, felt the same way.

The five-time assists leader played alongside Howard on the 2012-13 Lakers, and one fiery moment from that season — when the two engaged in a heated discussion over a botched play — showed just how differently they saw the game.

Everyone is free to decide for themselves who was right, but it’s worth noting that Nash is regarded as one of the smartest playmakers in NBA history. His insightful contributions to the “Mind the Game” podcast, co-hosted by LeBron James, demonstrate this in each new episode.

Howard’s flaws

If anyone is qualified to critique virtually any player, it’s Abdul-Jabbar. After all, his Hall of Fame résumé is staggering: over a 20-year NBA career, he averaged 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, piling up an endless list of accolades, including six championship rings.

With credentials like that, Abdul-Jabbar knew what defines a dominant big man. However, in his eyes, Howard fell short of that standard, revealing serious flaws in the three-time DPOY’s game.

“He has problems on both ends of the floor. He doesn’t have a go-to move,” criticized Abdul-Jabbar, recalling a front-row look at those very shortcomings.

The New York native said this moment came during the 2009 NBA Finals, when the Lakers — with him serving as a special assistant coach mentoring their big men — faced off against Howard’s Orlando Magic.

“I had to prepare Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum to play against Dwight… it was an easy job, because if you take certain things away from him, he doesn’t have an answer for it,” said the 19-time All-Star.

Kareem didn’t just criticize — he offered a clear prescription. To shed the “one-trick pony” label, Dwight needed to develop a more versatile skill set, which would then enable him to consistently make an effort he hadn’t yet shown.

Though Abdul-Jabbar lastly acknowledged Howard’s character, calling him a “wonderful young man” fueled by intelligence, charisma, and eloquence, he didn’t sugarcoat the basketball reality, stating that all those personal qualities “don’t mean he can consistently perform the things that help his team win.”

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.

“His basketball IQ is not up to speed” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on why he didn’t see Dwight Howard as a dominant player

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