Dwight Howard is known for his towering presence and impressive basketball skills, but his Dancing with the Stars season 33 participation has opened a new chapter in his career. The popular reality show, which pairs celebrities with professional dancers to compete in a dance-off, has featured various well-known personalities. However, Howard stands out as one of the tallest contestants to grace the stage.
Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Dwight Howard's height is hard to miss on the dance floor. Viewers can follow him on Instagram through his handle @dwighthoward.
Alongside him is Daniella Karagach, his partner, who stands at 5 feet 2 inches. This significant height difference has sparked curiosity among fans and viewers of Dancing with the Stars.
Everything we know about Dwight Howard from Dancing with the Stars
Early life and beginnings
Born in Atlanta, Dwight Howard is the son of Dwight Sr. and Sheryl Howard, who have strong athletic backgrounds. His father was the athletic director at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, and his mother played basketball at Morris Brown College. Howard showed interest in basketball from a young age.
He attended Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, where he excelled as a power forward. During his senior year, he led his high school to a state title, earning recognition as the country's best high school basketball player. He announced his entry into the 2004 NBA draft and was chosen first overall by the Orlando Magic.
Dwight Howard's professional basketball career
Howard is a professional basketball player who has played 18 seasons in the NBA. His career includes significant tenures with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers. He won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020.
In 2022, Howard moved to Taiwan to join the Taoyuan Leopards, where he became a T1 All-Star. Currently, he is signed with the Taiwan Mustangs, competing in The Asian Tournament (TAT).
Career achievements and records
Howard set numerous franchise and league records during his time with the Orlando Magic. He became the youngest player in NBA history to average a double-double in a season and was pivotal in leading the Magic to the 2009 NBA finals. He was awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year three times.
Howard's career includes several stints with other NBA teams, with eight All-Star selections and eight All-NBA Team honors. His versatility and defensive skills have been widely recognized throughout his career.
Daniella Karagach- Dwight Howard's partner in Dancing with the Stars
Despite his basketball background, dancing presents a new type of physical challenge for Howard, who has to match his movements with a much shorter partner, Daniella Karagach.
The height difference has been a topic of discussion. Karagach had to stand on a box for promotional photos to fit better in the frame. In an interview with Us Weekly on September 6, acknowledging the visual contrast between them, Howard mentioned,
"The first thing I noticed when meeting Daniella was how tall I am,"
Discussing the height difference, Daniella Karagach shared,
"Honestly though? All I could ask is for him to just have an open mind to this whole process. And he already does. He is already the most amazing partner.”
New episodes of Dancing with the Stars season 33 air live every Tuesday at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.