ORLANDO, Fla. — It's a question Dwight Howard will never forget.

Early this season, the Orlando Magic center was talking to Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo. The once great big men were giving Howard some tips, and Mutombo asked him a simple question.

"He said, 'What do you want to be remembered as, the great dunker who won the slam dunk contest with a Superman outfit on, or do you want to do something better than that?' " Howard recalled yesterday. "I said, 'I want to be one of the greatest players.' And he said it starts with defense."

Mission accomplished.

The 23-year-old Howard became the youngest player to win the NBA's defensive player of the year award yesterday. Howard was only the fifth player to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season, a goal he set in training camp.

Howard averaged 13.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game this season, his fifth in the league.

Howard received 542 points, including 105 first-place votes from a panel of 119 writers and broadcasters. Cleveland's LeBron James was second with 148 points and Miami's Dwyane Wade finished third with 90 points.

ELSEWHERE

CELTICS' POWE OUT:

Boston forward Leon Powe will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn ligament in his left knee. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Powe hurt himself on a spin move during Boston's 118-115 win over Chicago on Monday night.

SPANISH TEEN IN DRAFT:

Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio has decided to enter June's NBA Draft, according to Spanish reports yesterday. The 18-year-old Rubio, who is under contract with Spanish club DKV Joventut through 2011, has averaged 9.9 points and 5.7 assists this season for the club.