Everyone remembers the “Dwightmare” when Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard wanted to be traded from the team and subsequently ended up with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Magic hoped to retain Howard but it became clear that would not happen as he was convinced he had reached world icon status and made a jaw-dropping comparison. According to Bob Vander Weide, a former president of the Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard once compared himself to Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela.
via the Orlando Sentinel (h/t SLAM):
Sentinel colleague George Diaz caught up with former Magic team president Bob Vander Weide earlier this week and Vander Weide relived the tumultuous time when the Magic were trying to convince Dwight Howard to stay in Orlando. Vander Weide told Diaz the situation became hopeless when he realized Dwight had become delusional.
“When Dwight told me he was an icon, guess what three names he used [to compare himself to]?” Vander Weide said. “Michael Jordan. Muhammad Ali. Nelson Mandela. … ‘Are you kidding me?’ We’ve been to the Finals once and you’re a great athlete, and you’re an icon like these three? I knew it was over. I knew there was no chance of keeping him.”
