Dwight Howard Wins Third Straight Defensive Player of the Year Award

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive year, thus becoming the first player in NBA history to receive the award three straight seasons.

Interestingly, one of the voters left Howard off the ballot completely, a decision to which Howard had a reply.

"Thank you," said Howard when asked for his reaction to the voter's decision. "I'll do better next year."

Howard led the league in double-doubles this season. He also averaged 14.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and a career-high 1.3 steals per game.

Howard received 114 of the 120 possible first-place votes for the award. Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics came in second, and Tyson Chandler of the Dallas Mavericks came in third.

"It's my job to keep it going. I'm going to try to do the best I can on the defensive end to dominate and to change the game," said Howard, 25. "It definitely is a honor to be considered one of the best defensive players to play the game, and I'm still young. So hopefully, I can keep it up."

Meanwhile, Magic president of basketball operations, Otis Smith, thinks that Howard might also win the MVP title this season.

"We're hoping [to] come back here with another trophy in a couple of weeks," said Smith.

The MVP trophy will be handed out in a couple of weeks. Many fans and analysts expect Derrick Rose to run away with the title, but LeBron James and Howard are also considered contenders.

And in the case that he does win the MVP title, Howard says that he has space for the award.

"I have a lot of space in my two-bedroom house," said Howard, jokingly. "I think I've had a great year. If I do win MVP, it would be a great honor. It's something I've been working toward -- one of my individual goals I put above my bed every year. I want a Finals MVP. I think that's better than the regular award."

(Sources: ESPN.com)

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