Watch: Dwight Howard picks Durant over LeBron for NBA's best player
Sitting in a sea of Cleveland Cavaliers fans and saying LeBron James isn't the greatest player on the planet today proves that Dwight Howard has no fear.
During an appearance on ESPN's "First Take" Wednesday morning, the Atlanta Hawks big man was pressured into picking either James or Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant as the best the NBA has to offer.
"KD is seven feet. He's doing things that no 7-footer has ever really done. That's what sets him apart from a lot of players in this league - his ability to score from anywhere on the floor," Howard said. "He has great handles, and the thing he's doing this year better than any other year, he's blocking shots. His defense is crazy this year.
"Those two guys, you can go with either one."
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That answer wasn't going to suffice, though, so in an effort to avoid further alienating the crowd, Howard wound up going with himself, saying that "you've got to bet on yourself."
That tactic didn't work either, so, after even more pressure from the hosts, Howard picked Durant.