Dwight Howard is one of the most talented basketball players in the NBA today. He has been playing professional basketball for over a decade and shows no signs of slowing down. In this blog post, we will take a look at Dwight Howard’s early life and his professional career. We will also discuss why Dwight Howard is considered one of the best basketball players in the world.
Dwight David Howard II is a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association for the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA). He is an NBA champion, an eight-time All-Star, an eight-time member of the All-NBA Team, a five-time member of the All-Defensive Team, and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Howard, who plays center, attended Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in high school.
Early Life And Family Background Of Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard was born and raised in the small town of Atlanta, Georgia. From a young age, Dwight showed a natural talent for basketball, displaying incredible coordination and an ability to outmaneuver his opponents on the court. His family was incredibly supportive of Dwight’s athletic endeavors, cheering him on at every game and attending every practice. Dwight’s father also played a key role in shaping his love for the game, coaching Dwight and pushing him to reach his full potential.
Despite the hardships that Dwight faced growing up. Including frequent bullying due to his size and race – he was always driven by a strong sense of determination and passion for the sport. Today, Dwight plays professional basketball for one of the top teams in the league, shattering records with every dunk and showing that hard work truly pays off.
Howard was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Dwight Sr. and Sheryl Howard, a sports-loving family. His father is a Georgia State Trooper and the athletic director of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, a private school with one of the greatest high school basketball teams in the country; his mother was a member of Morris Brown College’s first women’s basketball team.
Howard’s mother went through seven miscarriages before giving birth to him. Howard, a fervent Christian from childhood, began playing basketball at the age of nine. Howard was speedy and flexible enough to play the guard position despite his huge stature.
Professional Career Of Dwight Howard
Orlando Magic (2004–2012)
Following his high school success, Howard forewent college and entered the 2004 NBA draft, where he was taken first overall by the Orlando Magic over UConn junior Emeka Okafor. A choice partially influenced by his hero Kevin Garnett, who had done the same in 1995. He chose the number 12 for his jersey since it was the opposite of Garnett’s 21. When he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Howard joined a decimated Magic team that had won only 21 games the previous season. And had recently lost perennial NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady. Howard, on the other hand, made an immediate impression. He averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds in his debut season, setting multiple NBA records in the process.
NBA Finals Appearance (2008–2011)
Howard received a record 3.1 million votes to earn the starting job on the Eastern Conference All-Star team in 2009. Howard became the NBA’s youngest ever winner of the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2010, at age 20 years and 33 days. He was also selected to both the All-Defensive First Team and the All-NBA First Team that season.
The Magic had a terrific start to the 2009–10 season, winning 17 of their first 21 games and setting a franchise record. Howard was selected as the starting center for the East in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game on January 21, 2010. The Magic finished the regular season with 59 victories and won their third division title in a row.
The Magic’s postseason journey culminated in another appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. When they were defeated by the Celtics in six games. For the second year in a row, Howard was named Defensive Player of the Year. He made NBA history by being the first player to lead the league in both blocks and rebounds in the same season. And he did it for two years in a row.
Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2013)
Howard was moved from Orlando to the Los Angeles Lakers on August 10, 2012. In a transaction that also included the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets. Following his April back surgery, Howard missed six months of basketball. And only had four weeks of training camp and preseason to prepare for the season. Howard, who is still getting in shape, paced himself on both offense and defense during the season.
In the second half of the Lakers’ 107–102 defeat against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 4, 2013. Howard hurt his right shoulder. The Lakers were a mediocre 17–24 at the halfway point of the season. Howard was averaging 17.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game on 58.2 percent shooting.
Houston Rockets (2013–2016)
Howard joined the Houston Rockets on July 13, 2013, forming a deadly tandem alongside James Harden. Furthermore, Howard was popular with the NBA Second Team after averaging 18.3 points and 12.2 rebounds during the regular season. Also, Howard averaged 26 points and 13.7 rebounds per game in the 2014 playoffs, but the Rockets were defeated in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers, losing the series 4–2.
Howard recorded 23 points and 14 rebounds against the Orlando Magic on November 4, 2015. Since Yao Ming’s 12-of-12 performance in 2009, he became the only Rocket to make 10 or more field goals without missing. In a defeat against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 26, he scored his 15,000th career point. Howard produced 36 points and tied a personal best with 26 rebounds in an overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers on January 18, 2016. He in their way to his 10th straight double-double, the league’s longest current run at the time. And his longest since a 14-game run in 2012–13.
Atlanta Hawks (2016–2017)
Howard signed a three-year, $70 million contract with his hometown team, the Atlanta Hawks, on July 12, 2016. With Tim Duncan’s retirement, Howard started the 2016–17 season as the active leader in rebounds and blocked shots in the NBA.
In a 123–116 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 2, he set a season-best with 31 points. He set a season-high with 24 points and 23 rebounds in a 113–108 win over the Rockets in Houston on February 2.
Charlotte Hornets (2017–2018)
The Hawks traded Howard to the Charlotte Hornets for Marco Belinelli, Miles Plumlee, and the 41st overall selection. In exchange for Marco Belinelli, Miles Plumlee, and the 31st overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. Howard started the season by being the first Charlotte player with four consecutive 15-rebound games since Emeka Okafor in 2007.
Howard was dealt with the Brooklyn Nets on July 6, 2018, for Timofey Mozgov, Hamidou Diallo’s draft rights, a 2021 second-round selection pick, and financial considerations. When he was acquired, the Nets quickly released him.
Washington Wizards (2018–2019)
Howard joined the Washington Wizards on July 12, 2018. With a sore posterior, he missed all of training camp, every preseason game, and the first seven regular-season games. After having spinal surgery to treat glute problems, he played in nine games in November before missing the balance of the season.
In March 2019, it was announced that Howard was suffering from a hamstring problem in addition to his back condition. Howard chose to activate his $5.6 million player option to return to the Wizards for a second season on April 18, 2019.
Return To The Lakers (2019–2020)
Howard re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on August 26, 2019, for a $2.6 million veteran’s minimum deal. Reuniting him with his old franchise. He was filling in for DeMarcus Cousins, a free agent acquired earlier in the summer who suffered a knee injury and was forced to miss the rest of the season. Howard volunteered to sign a non-guaranteed deal to convince the organization. That he would accept any job the team requested, allowing the Lakers to remove him at any moment.
During the season, the Lakers rotated him and starter center JaVale McGee pretty equally. Howard had a season-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and a season-high 15 rebounds on January 13, 2020.
National Team Career Of Dwight Howard
Howard was chosen to the 2006–2008 USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team on March 5, 2006. As the team’s regular starting center, he guided the team to a perfect 5–0 record during its pre-World Championship tour, and then to a bronze medal in the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
Howard was a member of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship squad that won its first nine games. On its way to qualifying for the finals and a berth in the 2008 Olympics. He started eight of the nine games, averaging 8.9 points per game, and 5.3 rebounds per game. And leading the club with a.778 field goal percentage. He hit all seven of his shots in the finals and scored 20 points as the United States beat Argentina.
Dwight Howard | Net Worth and Salary
Dwight Howard is the 11th highest-paid player on the Los Angeles Lakers. The 28th highest-paid center, and the 191st highest-paid NBA Player of the Year as of 2022. Furthermore, this sportsman has amassed a net worth of $140 million. As a result of his performances, as seen by his wage rise over time.
Dwight Howard’s earnings have climbed from roughly $4 million in 2004. With the Orlando Magic to almost $23 million in 2015. When you include his pay and all of the various sponsorships he is a part of owing to his celebrity, this basketball star earns over $30 million per year as of 2022. Peak Sport has also signed him as an endorser.
Dwight Howard | Relationship Status
Dwight Howard is famous for having five different children with five different mothers. He’s also been accused of abuse and slander, which has thrown his personality into disarray. He filed a defamation suit against one of his children’s moms, Royce Reed, in 2010, after she had publicly acknowledged and discussed their connection on various occasions.
Reed was forced to pay a $500 fee due to a contractual obligation after publicly mentioning Howard’s name on two occasions. After an inquiry in 2014 revealed that Howard had beaten his kid with a belt, he was accused of child abuse. The sportsman defended himself by claiming that his parents punished him as a child.
Social Media Presence
Instagram – dwighthoward 2.9M Followers
Twitter – @DwightHoward 6.5M Followers