Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard has been named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday after becoming the fifth player in league history in rebounds and blocked shots.

The three-time All-Star center received 542 points, including 105 first-place votes from a panel of 119 sportswriters and broadcasters, to easily outdistance the rest of the field.

Howard, 23, led the NBA in rebounding with 13.8 per game and blocked shots, 2.9 per game, as he helped the Magic to third place in the Eastern Conference, as well as the team's second consecutive Southeast crown.

"It's something you got to want to do," Howard said. "It's all about winning, and I try to have that mentality of protecting the paint."

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, the favorite to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award this season, finished second with148 points, while Miami Heats' Dwyane Wade was third with 90 points.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2009)