Eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard is regarded by many as one of the best centers in NBA history. Born on December 8, 1985, in Atlanta, Georgia, Howard played as a power forward in high school for the Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy.
In his senior high school season, Howard led his school team that won the state title in 2004. For his outstanding performances, he was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Gatorade National Player of the Year, the Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Year and McDonald’s National High School Player of the Year.
Howard was picked first overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft. Since then, he has played for multiple teams including the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, LA Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers.
In the 2019/20 season with the Lakers, Howard played a key role alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis and helped the franchise win their 17th NBA championship, his first.
Howard last played professional basketball for the Taoyuan Leopards in the T1 league in Taiwan.
Dwight Howard Orlando Magic Career
After being picked first overall by the Magic in 2004, Howard played for the team for eight seasons. He averaged a double double in his rookie season, becoming the youngest rookie in NBA history to achieve such a feat (12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds). In his third and fourth seasons in Orlando, Howard led the league in rebounds (14.2 rpg in 2007/08 and 13.8 rpg in 2008/09).
Why did Dwight Howard leave Orlando?
According to online sources, Howard wanted to compete for NBA championships and he felt that the Magic were not doing enough to contend. Therefore, he wanted to either be traded to the Brooklyn Nets or become a free agent after the 2012/13 season. He also underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back and was unavailable for most of the 2011/12 season.
Howard was a defense monster who won three Defensive Player of the Year awards. He led the league twice in blocks and five times in rebounds per game in his career. Howard was a member of the All-Defensive First Team four times and All-NBA First Team five times.
He went on to play for six different NBA teams after his exit from the Orlando Magic. He finally became an NBA champion in the 2019/20 season, in his second stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Internationally, Howard won the gold for Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.
FAQs
A. Dwight Howard stands a staggering 6’10” or (2.08 meters) tall.
A. Dwight Howard has a wingspan of 7’8” or 2.37 meters.
A. Dwight Howard weighs 265 lbs or 120 kg.
A. According to online sources, Dwight Howard had a vertical leap of 39.5 inches or 100 cm in 2011.
