Dwight Howard came into the NBA as a young player with amazing physical traits and the hope that he could carry the Orlando Magic back to greatness. However, critics openly questioned his maturity and dedication to the game and frequent comparisons to Shaq put him on an expected path out of Orlando to a larger NBA market. This fear was fully realized during the past year as the "Dwightmare" never seemed to end. With news that Howard will join the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a four-team trade, we can finally wake up. Perhaps now, Dwight Howard cards will reach their full potential.
Howard has already achieved great individual success. However, he has not been paired with other elite players to allow him to grow as a player and have legitimate Championship aspirations. This is no longer the case. Howard joins an All-Star lineup with the Lakers, playing alongside Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and, of course, Kobe Bryant. This was a move that many have hypothesized for years but few could have expected the chaos that transpired. The Lakers will now join the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder as the top picks for the 2012-2013 NBA Championship.
In terms of hobby and mainstream appeal, this is the best thing that could happen to Dwight Howard. Expect a significant bump in Dwight Howard cards and memorabilia. The hype will build all season and the playoffs will be the site of an explosion in value if Howard can be a dominant force in games even with all the other high-profile players around him. As the one younger star on the Lakers, Howard is in prime position to assume the face of the franchise role from Kobe and start putting the team on his large shoulders. Hobby love will follow the championships. If the Lakers can turn these high-profile moves into hardware, Howard will make a strong push for upper-echelon status in the collecting world.
Despite his best efforts to distance himself, it is Howard's similarity to another famous big man, Shaquille O'Neal, that speaks most to his potential. Both men were able to be dominate on the court and are charismatic off of it. Howard has the chance to take that to the next level with the increased media exposure and social media presence.
Despite his popularity, there has not been readily available autographed Dwight Howard cards since the 2009-10 season. The increase in exposure should greatly increase the demand for his autographed cards. This means existing cards should begin to increase in value. It will also put more pressure on Panini and Upper Deck to get his autograph into their new products.
Dwight Howard has over 40 rookie cards that will appeal to collectors of every budget. The top options for high-end rookie collectors all include on-card autos.
Top Dwight Howard Rookie Cards
2004-05 Exquisite Dwight Howard #90 Autograph Patch #/99
Overall, this is a simply a great card. Never mind that it will run you $2000+, Exquisite is the Rolls Royce of basketball cards and Howard's rookie is the top model for 2004-05. With a limited print run of 99, a nice-sized patch piece and on-card autograph, this is as good as it gets for Dwight Howard cards.
2004-05 Ultimate Collection Dwight Howard #127 Autograph #/250
The 2004-05 Ultimate Collection Dwight Howard rookie may not come with the hype of Exquisite but it represents a great value in comparison. Although it does not feature a jersey piece, it still has a low print run and on-card auto. The design does leave something to be desired but it is still a top rookie option for collectors. It can be found for a few hundred dollars.
2004-05 SP Authentic Dwight Howard #186 Autograph #/999
Arguably the best looking card in the group, the 2004-05 SP Authentic Dwight Howard rookie uses a bright blue background and dynamic image to create a great canvas. The large signing area is an added bonus, which will make it easier for collectors to overlook the higher print run and lack of jersey piece.
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Dwight Howard Rookie Card Checklist
Budget Rookie Cards
- 2004-05 Bazooka #220
- 2004-05 Bowman #129
- 2004-05 Flair #82 #/799
- 2004-05 Fleer Authentix #129 #/750
- 2004-05 Fleer Genuine #127 #/500
- 2004-05 Fleer Sweet Sigs #90 #/999
- 2004-05 Fleer Tradition #221
- 2004-05 Hoops #193 #/1750
- 2004-05 SkyBox Autographics #69 #/750
- 2004-05 SkyBox Fresh Ink #113 #/499
- 2004-05 SkyBox Premium #76 #/999
- 2004-05 Topps #221
- 2004-05 Topps Luxury Box #101
- 2004-05 Topps Pristine #101
- 2004-05 Topps Total #315
- 2004-05 Upper Deck #224 SP
- 2004-05 Upper Deck All-Star Lineup #92
- 2004-05 Upper Deck Pro Sigs #91
- 2004-05 Upper Deck R-Class #91
Mid-Range Rookie Cards
- 2004-05 Black Diamond #184
- 2004-05 Bowman Chrome #129
- 2004-05 Bowman Signature Edition #56 Jersey #/100
- 2004-05 E-XL #78 #/399
- 2004-05 Finest #159 #/400
- 2004-05 Fleer Showcase #93 #/199
- 2004-05 Fleer Throwbacks #77 Jersey #/499
- 2004-05 Hoops Hot Prospects #91 Jersey #/350
- 2004-05 SkyBox LE #76 #/99 (Retail not #'ed)
- 2004-05 SP Game Used #92 #/999
- 2004-05 SP Signature Edition #101 Jersey #/499
- 2004-05 Sweet Shot #131 #/499
- 2004-05 Topps Chrome #166
- 2004-05 Ultra #176 #/500
- 2004-05 Upper Deck Hardcourt #91 #/999
- 2004-05 Upper Deck Trilogy #141 #/499
Premium Rookie Cards
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Dwight Howard Autographed Memorabilia Buying Guide
Below you will find an example of what Dwight Howard's authentic signature looks like. This can be used as a first point of reference for determining the legitimacy of autograph memorabilia, but is not a substitute for having your items authenticated by a well respected professional autograph authentication company.
Signed Basketball Pricing:
Average eBay Sales Price: $125
Lowest Amazon Price:
Signed Jersey Pricing
Average eBay Sales Price: $150
Lowest Amazon Price:
Signed 8x10 Photo Pricing
Average eBay Sales Price: $40
Lowest Amazon Price:
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