During the 1st quarter of his team Orlando Magic’s Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 duel with MVP Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers, 2009 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard dunked the ball so hard that it brought down the 24-second shot clock above the basket. The game was temporarily halted for 8 minutes as it was being repaired. It was a sign of good things to come as they won 107-106.

The play was reminiscent of a young Shaquille O’Neal. Although I must say that it was not even close to what Shaq had done. Need proof? Watch these.

In this first video, Shaq not only brought down the shot clock but the entire backboard with it! This happened on April 23, 1993 against the New Jersey Nets during the last game of his rookie season while playing for the Orlando Magic.

On his first national LIVE TV appearance against the Phoenix Suns, then rookie Shaq introduced himself to the world with this dunk that slowly bent the goal to the ground. It was almost surreal!

The next season, the NBA decided to make the baskets Shaq-proof to prevent game delays. So, it was understandable that no one managed to bring down backboards anymore, Shaq even. But still, Dwight Howard’s dunk was enough to show people that he really is the next Superman!

Please read my related posts:

1. 2010 NBA Playoffs First Round | Dwight Howard Has a New Nickname This might finally give Shaq peace of mind. Dwight Howard is Superman no more. In the Orlando Magic’s 99-90 Game 4 win over the Charlotte Bobcats, Howard has fouled out again. This is the second time in as many games...
2. 2009 NBA Finals | Kobe Bryant vs Dwight Howard Preview The date was November 12, 2006. It was Dwight Howard’s 6th game as a rookie and his team the Orlando Magic is facing the Los Angeles Lakers and its superstar, Kobe Bryant. In the 3rd quarter with the Magic leading...
3. 2010 NBA Playoffs First Round | Welcome to the Dwight Howard Block Party The Bobcats swarmed Superman in every offensive possession and frustrated him so much that he racked up 5 fouls leaving him on the bench for most of the game. Dwight Howard managed only 5 points and 7 rebounds in Game...
4. 2009 NBA Finals Lakers vs Magic Game 2 | Courtney Lee Misses Alley-oop Shot It was an exciting Game 2 and close all throughout. With seconds remaining and the game tied at 88-all, Kobe Bryant has the ball for the Lakers’ final shot. Going straight to the basket for another heroic moment, Kobe’s shot...
5. Dwight Howard NBA Jersey and Patch Cards Collection In true Shaquille O’Neal fashion, Dwight Howard brought down the shot clock after a monster slam during the Orlando Magic’s Game 2 Eastern Conference Finals win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. When Shaq retires, the one person that will continue to...
6. Dwight Howard NBA Rookie Cards Collection By winning today 116-114, the Orlando Magic is now leading the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-1 in their best-of-seven NBA Eastern Conference Finals series. It was a hard-fought game as usual. First time NBA MVP Lebron James sent the game into OT...
7. Phoenix Suns Eliminated From 2009 NBA Playoffs The door to the 2009 NBA Playoffs has been officially slammed shut for my beloved Phoenix Suns. A hard-fought 105-100 win against Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets today did not prevent the team from missing the playoffs for...
8. Dwight Howard Named the 2010 NBA Defensive Player of the Year In a not-so surprising announcement, Dwight Howard has been named today the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2009-10 season. This is the second straight award for Howard after becoming the first player in NBA history to lead...
9. Dwight Howard Earns Record Third Consecutive NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Last year, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in blocked shots and rebounds in the same season twice – and for two seasons in a row. Today, he was named...
10. Dwight Howard Autographed NBA Cards Collection This season, Dwight Howard emerged as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, the youngest player to ever win that award at age 23. He also led the league in rebounds and blocks with averages of 13.8 and 2.9 respectively....

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Tags: 2009 NBA playoffs, cleveland cavaliers, dunk, dwight howard, NBA, orlando magic, shaquille o'neal, superman