Buzz City Beat: Charlotte Hornets all-star debate, Dwight Howard wants to play 20 seasons
Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the latest news and stories from around the web about the Charlotte Hornets.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Al Horford were reportedly the final two picks in the inaugural NBA All-Star Draft. (BleacherReport.com) In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at Joel Embiid not getting why Kemba Walker was selected over Ben Simmons for the ASG, Dwight Howard‘s future and Frank Kaminsky being honored by his alma mater.
Joel Embiid doesn’t understand why Kemba got all-star nod over Ben Simmons (TheScore.com)
"“The only one I didn’t really understand was Kemba (Walker) because we have the better record. Ben’s numbers are better than all those guys … he’s one of the best defensively in the league. I don’t know.”"
I get why Embiid is sticking up for his teammate but almost everyone would agree Kemba deserves to be an all-star this season. While Ben Simmons is having a great rookie season, he is the second-best player on his team while Walker is by far the Hornets best player and probably the only reason why Charlotte is even relevant this year. With that said, I would make the argument that Simmons deserves an all-star spot over Goran Dragic.
The only thing that Dragic has going for him is his team’s success/record which Joel pointed out. Embiid also mentioned that Andre Drummond did deserve his reserve spot as well. The Philadelphia 76ers’ big man only singled out Kemba Walker as a questionable selection from NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Dwight Howard wants to play 20 seasons (Twitter/ @JohnDenton555)
"Howard has a goal of playing 20 seasons in the NBA. “I think about it a lot & hopefully I can make it 20 years. Twenty yrs has always been my goal. As long as I’m willing to play, I want to do it. I know I probably have four really good years left at a high level of basketball. Then, after that, I wouldn’t mind helping the younger guys and clapping at the end of the bench.”"
Dwight is in his 14th season and has shown little signs of slowing down. Even at 32-years old, he is still averaging a double-double by putting up 15.8 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game. Although he’s not quite the superstar that he once was earlier in his career, Howard is still an effective player and has been a difference maker for the Hornets in his first season with the team.
If he can remain injury-free, there’s an outside chance that Dwight could reach 20 seasons in the NBA. If he did, Howard would be 38-years old in his 20th year which is pretty old for basketball players and especially for big men who rely on athleticism like he does. Although, if he is willing to accept a bench/mentor role in a few years, there is a chance that he could extend his career at least a couple more seasons.
Wisconsin honors Frank Kaminsky (NBC15.com)
"It was a big night at the Kohl Center Thursday as the University of Wisconsin as the jersey of former Badger Men’s Basketball standout Frank Kaminsky will now hang at the Kohl Center. The 2015 consensus National Player of the Year was there to witness the retirement of his No. 44 jersey during a halftime ceremony."
Next: Kemba is chasing Dell Curry's scoring record
Kaminsky’s #44 is only the second number to be hung at the Kohl Center for the University of Wisconsin. That’s a great honor for the Charlotte Hornets’ big man who had an outstanding college career. Although his number is in the rafters, players will still be able to wear it but his name and number will forever be remembered and celebrated. Frank had a stylish custom-made suit jacket for this special event.