Even though he’s not a popular player nowadays, Dwight Howard is still one of the greatest big men in NBA history. Owner of multiple league records, Howard played a key part in the post-Shaquille O’Neal Orlando Magic, where he spent his first eight NBA seasons.
Howard was a dominant rim protector and the league’s finest rebounder during his prime. He was the best center in the world when Team USA won the Olympic gold in 2008, and the guy who led the Magic to their second NBA Finals appearance in their history.
Once considered the NBA’s worst teammate, there’s a reason why GMs ignored all those red flags and still signed Howard. Love him or hate him, he always found ways to help his team win. That’s why today, we’re going to honor one of the best ever to do it, letting you know all there is to know about Superman.
Dwight Howard – Early Life
Son of Sheryl Howard and Dwight Howard Sr., Dwight was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. His father had attended Georgia State Trooper and had a privileged position at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, where Dwight Jr. would go on to thrive during his high school days. His mother was also a gifted athlete and a former hooper for Morris Brown College’s women’s basketball team.
Howard was raised as a devoted Christian, playing basketball in his free time since he turned nine years old. Notably, he was originally slated to play as a guard, but a growth spurt forced his coach to shift him to the power forward position. Averaging 25.0 points, 18.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 8.1 blocks per game and playing for one of the elite high school basketball programs in the nation, Howard was one of the highest-touted recruits in high school basketball during his senior year.
Dwight Howard – Entering the NBA
Howard’s athletic traits, strength, and big frame were more than enough for NBA scouts to consider him a lock to be a future star. So, he decided to skip college and declare for the 2004 NBA Draft, where the Orlando Magic took him with the first-overall pick. He drew comparisons to Shaquille O’Neal from day one, and the Magic hoped he’d lead them to the top like Shaq had done the previous decade.
Howard was expected to take over after the Magic traded Tracy McGrady, and it didn’t take long before he proved why scouts were so high on him. He averaged a double-double in his first season and established his own NBA record by becoming the youngest player to achieve that feature in league history. However, despite starting all 82 games and establishing multiple marks, he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, trailing Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon.
Dwight bulked up in the summer before his second year in the league. His newly-found physicality helped him become an elite defender and rebounder, yet he couldn’t prevent his team from flailing again and missing the playoffs. His third season would finally grant him his first selection to the NBA All-Star Game and a first playoff berth, although they were swept by the Detroit Pistons in the first round.
Motivated by the loss, Dwight continued to work on his body and his game and finally broke out in the 2007-08 season. He averaged 20.7 points, a league-leading 14.2 boards, and 2.1 blocks per game and led the Magic to their first division title since the Shaq days and the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, they lost to the Pistons again in the second round.
Superman came back stronger than ever for the next campaign. However, Howard missed games for the first time in his career after enduring a left knee injury, putting an end to an impressive streak of 351 consecutive games.
Still, he returned and led the Magic to their second straight Southeast Division title and another playoff berth. They beat the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and Cleveland Cavaliers en route to his first trip to the Finals. There, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers would put an end to their season in five games.
Howard led Orlando to its third consecutive division title next season, and he continued to establish himself as the most dominant big man on Earth. Howard won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards and was at the top of his game. However, the Boston Celtics got the best of them in the Eastern Conference Finals, preventing them from a Finals rematch with the Lakers.
The next two seasons were kind of the same for Howard and the Magic. Howard posted career highs, gathered multiple personal accolades, and led the league in rebounds, but his team couldn’t return to the promised land.
Then, in 2012, Howard requested a trade to the New Jersey Nets and reportedly tried to get coach Stan Van Gundy fired, but eventually backed down from that stance. He missed the remainder of the season due to a back injury and requested a trade again in the offseason.
Dwight Howard – Leaving the Orlando Magic
Howard set numerous franchise records during his days with the Magic, but he wanted to be a part of a legit championship contender. The Magic didn’t grant him his wish of being traded to the Nets, which were relocated to Brooklyn, although they did fire Van Gundy. Even so, Howard threatened to leave as a free agent if he wasn’t traded, so they eventually moved him to the Lakers in a four-team blockbuster deal.
Howard arrived in Los Angeles to anchor the Lakers’ defense and round up a team also featuring Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, and Kobe Bryant. However, he never got along with Bryant, Nash was often injured, and Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni often questioned his work ethic and conditioning. Howard had one of his worst seasons since his rookie season and failed to lead the Lakers past the first round after Kobe left with an injury, being ejected with 9 minutes left.
Dwight Howard and Houston Rockets Era
Howard joined the Rockets after turning down a five-year max contract from the Lakers. Reports from training camp claimed that he was in the best shape of his career and looked forward to teaming up with James Harden.
Injuries started to take a toll on Howard’s career. He was on and off the floor due to constant nagging pains, but he still helped Kevin McHale‘s team clinch its first divisional title in two decades. Howard scored 23 points on 10/10 shooting to become the first Rockets player to shoot 100% from the floor since Yao Ming, but that was pretty much the only remarkable feature of his tenure in Houston.
Unfortunately, injuries and off-court controversies stained his three-year stint in Houston, failing to live up to the expectations of the T-Mac/Yao Ming 2.0 era. A failed trip to the Western Conference Finals was the furthest they could go together. Notably, it was Howard’s final chance to play big minutes in a contending team, but he hadn’t realized that just yet.
Dwight Howard – Bouncing Around The League
After proving that he couldn’t get along with any of his fellow NBA All-Stars, GMs started wondering whether Howard was worth all the trouble. Sports pundits rated Howard as a declining player and a negative locker room presence, so he had difficulty gauging interest from contending sides.
Dwight Howard ended up signing a three-year deal with his hometown Atlanta Hawks, a team with no real championship aspirations. However, he’d only stay there for one season, as the Hawks traded Howard to the Charlotte Hornets in a salary-dumping deal. To make things even worse, his Hawks teammates reportedly cheered upon hearing the news.
He immediately was the team’s regular starting center and looked to turn back the clock early in the season, even logging a 30-point, 30-rebound game. He had a franchise-record 53 double-doubles that season, but that didn’t prevent him from being traded for the third consecutive season. Charlotte traded Howard to the Brooklyn Nets; he was later waived and then signed with the Washington Wizards.
His tenure in the nation’s capital was once again shortlived and full of issues. He missed their camp, preseason, and most of the season. Howard injured his glute, hamstring, and back, and made a grand total of nine appearances for the franchise before being traded and then waived by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dwight Howard – Lakers Redemption And NBA Championship
Following an infamous first stint, Dwight Howard was far from a fan favorite in Los Angeles. But he had already paid his dues and was a much mature player in 2019 after being humbled by the constant trades. He got in the gym, got in the best shape of his career, and vowed to give the Lakers the best of his game.
While no longer the dominant star he was when he first joined the purple and gold, Howard still provided key minutes as a rim protector. With Howard putting up 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in 72.9% from the floor in the playoffs, the Lakers captured their 17th NBA championship and finally got him his first ring.
Dwight Howard – Leaving L.A. Again And Another Comeback
But going full circle wasn’t enough to stay in Los Angeles. Shortly after tweeting that he was running it back with the Lakers, Howard signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, once again leaving Lakers fans with a bittersweet taste in their mouths.
However, that divorce wouldn’t last long, as his lone season with the Sixers was far from successful, logging 16 technical fouls despite averaging roughly 17 minutes per game. He then signed another deal to join the Lakers for the third time in his career.
Dwight Howard – Accolades & Awards
Howard is a lock to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame once he retires. Thus far, his resume looks like this:
- Olympic Gold medal
- NBA Champion
- 5-time All-NBA First Team
- All-NBA Second Team
- 2-time All-NBA Third Team
- 8-time All-Star
- 3-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- 4-time NBA All-Defensive First Team
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 5-time NBA Rebounding Champion
- 2-time NBA Blocks Champion
- NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
- Mr. Georgia Basketball
- First-team Parade All-American
- McDonald’s All-American Game MVP
- Naismith Prep Player Of The Year
On top of that, he’s also the youngest NBA player to:
- Grab 20 rebounds in one game
- Average a double-double
- Record a 20-point/2o-rebound game
- Grab 1,000; 2,000; 3,000; 4,000, 5,000, 6,000; 7,000; 8,000, and 9,000 rebounds
- Lead the league in rebounds
- Lead the league in blocks
- Win Defensive Player of the Year
Dwight Howard has left the NBA to join the Taiwanese T1 League where he already racked up a nice bunch of accolades:
- T1 League Most Valuable Import (2023)
- All-T1 League First Team (2023)
- T1 League All-Defensive First Team (2023)
- T1 League rebounds leader (2023)
- T1 League All-Star (2023)
- T1 League All-Star Game Most Famous Player (2023)
- T1 League All-Star Game MVP (2023)
How many 3s did Dwight Howard make?
Throughout his 18-year NBA career, Dwight Howard has attempted 103 three-pointers, knocking down 22 of those (21.4% shooting). His best season as a three-point shooter came with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22, when he made 8 of 15 attempts (53.3%).
Where did Dwight Howard go to high school?
Howard, a center, spent his high school basketball career at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. He then decided to enter the 2004 NBA draft instead of going to college and was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic.
What is Dwight Howard’s vertical?
Dwight Howard’s vertical is even more impressive than Shaquille O’Neal’s. He has an incredible 39.5” vertical leap, which is unprecedented for a guy who’s 6’10” and weighs 265 pounds. That’s the kind of athleticism that made him one of the most dominant two-way forces in the league during his prime.
What’s Dwight Howard’s Net Worth?
According to the specialized site Wealthy Gorilla, Dwight Howard’s net worth is $140 Million. However, Spotract points out that he’s earned $245,142,483 throughout his 18 years in the NBA in salary alone.
Who is the best Orlando Magic player of all time?
While Dwight Howard didn’t leave the team on the best terms, he should still be considered one of the greatest — if not the greatest —players in Orlando Magic history. He led them to the NBA Finals in his fifth season in the league and became the most dominant defender in the league during his prime.
Perhaps the only two players that could rank ahead of Dwight Howard in that regard are Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway and Shaquille O’Neal. Those two wroke havoc in the Eastern Conference and were one of the most explosive offensive duos of all time, although they failed to win the ring in their lone trip to the ultimate stage.
Shaq’s numbers were more impressive and he was obviously a more talented and dominant player, although Howard still ranks higher than him in most franchise leaderboard stats. However, that also has to do with the fact that Dwight spent eight years in Orlando, while Shaq left after four seasons.
Does Dwight Howard have a ring?
Yes, Dwight Howard has an NBA championship ring. He won it as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2019-2020 NBA season. It was the first championship of Howard’s career.
When did Dwight Howard win a championship?
Dwight Howard won his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2019-2020 NBA season. The Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, clinching the title on October 11, 2020.
