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Dwight Howard

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Dwight Howard
Orlando Magic
PositionCenter/Power forward
Personal information
Born (1985-12-08) December 8, 1985 (age 38)
Atlanta, Georgia
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High schoolSouthwest Atlanta Christian Academy
NBA draft2004: 1st overall
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Playing career2004–present
Career highlights and awards
2008 NBA Slam Dunk Champion
2004 Naismith Prep Player of the Year
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Dwight David Howard (born December 8, 1985, in Atlanta, Georgia[4]) is an American basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Thunder" or "Superman",[5] Howard, who usually plays center but can play either center or power forward, chose to forgo college and entered the 2004 NBA Draft. He was selected first overall by the Magic, and has since emerged as one of the top rebounders and players in the NBA and been selected to the All-Star game twice. His overall play and his spectacular dunks have gained Howard prominence as one of the brightest young prospects in the NBA and the team leader of the Magic. Off the court, he is a devout Christian who contributes substantially to philanthropic causes. He was the winner of the NBA 2008 Slam Dunk Contest.

Early life

Howard was born to Dwight Sr. and Sheryl Howard and into a family with strong athletic connections. His father is a Georgia State trooper and serves as Athletic Director of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, a private academy with one of the best high school basketball programs in the country, while his mother played on the inaugural women's basketball team at Morris Brown College.[4] A devout Christian since his youth, Howard resolved in eighth grade to one day be selected as the number one pick in the NBA Draft.[6] Howard elected to attend Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy for high school, and in his four years he averaged 16.6 points per game (ppg), 13.4 rebounds per game (rpg) and 6.3 blocks per game in 129 appearances.[4] Generally recognized as the best American high school basketball player in 2004, Howard was awarded the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award, the Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Year Award, the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award, and the McDonald's National High School Player of the Year honor.[7] Howard and J. R. Smith were co-MVPs of the McDonald's High School All-America Game that year.[7]

NBA career

Early years

Following his high school successes, Howard chose to forego college and declared for the 2004 NBA Draft, where the Orlando Magic selected him first overall.[4] He finished his rookie season with an average of 12.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg,[8] setting several NBA records in the process. He became the youngest player in NBA history to average a double double in the regular season.[7] He also became the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 10.0 rebounds in a season and youngest NBA player ever to record at least 20 rebounds in a game.[7] Howard's importance to the Magic was highlighted when he became the first player in NBA history directly out of high school to start all 82 games during his rookie season.[7] For his efforts, Howard was selected to play in the 2005 NBA Got Milk? Rookie Challenge, and was unanimously selected to the All-NBA Rookie First Team.[7] Despite his excellent rookie season, he finished third to fellow center Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats and guard Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls for the Rookie of the Year award.[9]

Howard built on his strong rookie year with an impressive sophomore season. On 15 November 2005, in a home game at against the Charlotte Bobcats, Howard scored 21 points and 20 rebounds, becoming the youngest player ever to score 20 or more points and gather 20 or more rebounds in the same game.[10] Howard was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the 2006 Rookie Challenge during the All-Star break,[4] and on 15 April 2006, he recorded a career-high 26 rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers.[8] Overall, he averaged 15.8 points and 12.5 rebounds[8] per game, ranking second in the NBA in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds, and double doubles; and sixth in field goal percentage.[4] Despite Howard's improvement, the Magic finished the season with a 36–46 win-loss record and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season since Howard's arrival.[11]

All-Star

Howard took another step forward as a player in the 2006–07 season, and for the third consecutive season he played in all 82 regular season games.[8] On 1 February 2007, he received his first NBA All-Star selection as a reserve on the Eastern Conference squad for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.[4] Howard finished the game with 20 points and 12 rebounds.[12] Less than a week later, he recorded a career-high 32 points against the Toronto Raptors.[13] As the push for playoff spots intensified, Howard was instrumental, recording another career-high 35 points against the Philadelphia Sixers on 14 April 2007.[14] Under his leadership, the Magic qualified for the 2007 NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2003 as the number eight seed in the Eastern Conference.[15] However, the Magic were swept by the eventual Eastern Conference finalist Detroit Pistons in the first round.[16] Howard averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, and finished first in the NBA in total rebounds, second in field goal percentage, and ninth in blocks. Howard was recognized for his strong play in being named to the All-NBA Third Team at the end of the 2006–07 campaign.[17]

Howard continued posting impressive numbers in the 2007–08 season. He was named as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team, and by the time the mid-season break arrived, he was leading the league in double doubles and had recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game on five occasions.[18] On February 16 2008, Dwight Howard won the 2008 Slam dunk contest by receiving 78% of the fan's votes via text messaging or online voting.[19]

2008 Slam Dunk Contest

First Round

Howard, a favorite coming into the event performed numerous amazing, "unhumanlike" (as described by TNT announcer Kenny "The Jet" Smith) dunks. His first dunk was a different individual performance of Andre Iguodala's and Allen Iverson's off-the-back-of-the-backboard, under the backboard dunk in the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest. For his effort, he copped a 50. For his next dunk, he donned a Superman costume and cape while dunking it from just inside the free throw line on an alley oop pass from teammate Jameer Nelson. He was actually so high, he threw the ball into the basket rather than actually dunking it. He received another 50.

Final Round

Facing Minnesota Timberwolves forward and defending champion Gerald Green in the final round, Howard continued his dominance. On his first dunk of the second round, he literally threw an alley oop pass to himself, then slapped it off the backboard with his left hand and dunked it with his right hand. His next dunk was also very creative. After placing a mini Orlando Magic basketball hoop on the backboard, he balanced a regulation sized basketball on it. Then running from the right wing, he snatched the basketball from the hoop and windmilled it.

Results

Due to his array of never-before-seen dunks, he received 78% of the fan votes to win the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest.

International career

Dwight Howard
Medal record
Representing  United States
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Japan USA

Howard was named on 5 March 2006, to the 2006-2008 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program.[4] As the team's regular starting center, he helped lead the team to a 5–0 record during its pre-World Championship tour, and subsequently helped the team win the bronze medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.[4] During the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, Howard was on the team which won its first nine games en route to qualifying for the finals and a spot for the 2008 Olympics.[20] He started in eight of those nine games, averaging 8.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg and led the team in shooting .778 from the field.[21] In the finals, he made all seven of his shots and scored 20 points as the USA defeated Argentina to win the gold medal.[22]

Player profile

Howard is the current franchise player and leader of the Magic.[23] He is one of the NBA's best rebounders, finishing first in total rebounds in each of the last two seasons; in a game against the Golden State Warriors on 10 January 2007, his 25 rebounds for the Magic outnumbered the total number of boards grabbed by the starting five of the Warriors.[24] Howard's rebounding is in part facilitated by his extraordinary athleticism; his vertical leap is estimated at almost 40 inches, almost unheard of for a player of his size (6'11", 265 pounds).[25] He memorably demonstrated this skill in the 2007 Slam Dunk Contest during the NBA All-Star Weekend, during which he completed an alley oop dunk from teammate Jameer Nelson and slapped a sticker onto the backboard which reached 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m).[26] The sticker showed an image of his own smiling face with a handwritten "All things through Christ Phil: 4:13," a paraphrase of Philippians 4:13.[27]

Howard is one of the game's best finishers; he has led the NBA in dunks in each of the last two seasons. He normally relies on his athleticism to get open for shots, but has demonstrated an increasing awareness of how to play offense, and now regularly employs a jump hook in the post. Howard's abilities and powerful physique have thus drawn attention from fellow NBA All-Stars. Tim Duncan once remarked: "[Howard] is so developed... He has so much promise and I am glad that I will be out of the league when he is peaking."[28] Kevin Garnett echoed those sentiments: "[Howard] is a freak of nature, man... I was nowhere near that physically talented. I wasn't that gifted, as far as body and physical presence."[28] In December 2007, ESPN writer David Thorpe declared Howard to be the most dominant center in the NBA.[29]

While many sports pundits rate Howard as one of the top young prospects in the NBA today,[25][30][31] Howard has some weaknesses in his game. Offensively, his shooting range remains limited; he is also mistake-prone, having led the NBA in turnovers in the 2006–07 season. Like many centers, he has a low free throw conversion percentage.[8]

Media appearances

In the 2006-07 NBA season, Howard appeared in the NBA Fundamentals series, hosted by TNT, in which players showcase certain aspects of the game. He explained the topic "rebounding". In his clip, he emphasised "reading" shots to know in what direction misses will ricochet off the rim, working hard to get good rebounding position, and boxing out your opponent. He also showed that good rebounders also quickly pass the ball to initiate a fastbreak. With offensive rebounds, Howard explained the "swim move" in which a player uses a breaststroke-like arm movement to get on top of the opponent's arm and push it away. Finally, he stated his admiration for multiple rebounding champion Dennis Rodman.

Off the court

Howard has stated he believes in reaching out to his community and fans and thus contributes substantially in the field of philanthropy.[6] An avid listener of Gospel music, he attends the Fellowship of Faith Church when he is back home in Atlanta and is involved and active with the youth programs at the church.[32] Together with his parents, Howard also established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. in 2004.[33] The Foundation provides scholarships for students who want to attend his alma mater, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, and grants to Lovell Elementary School and Memorial Middle School in Orlando, Florida.[33] The Foundation also organizes summer basketball camps for boys and girls, and together with high school and college coaches and players, fellow NBA players are invited to be on hand at the camp.[34] For his contributions in the Central Florida community, Howard received in 2005 the Rich and Helen De Vos Community Enrichment Award.[32] Within the NBA itself, Howard has participated in several NBA "Read to Achieve" assemblies encouraging children to make reading a priority.[32]

Elsewhere, Howard appeared as a special guest on an episode of the ABC series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that aired 2 April 2006, in which Ty Pennington and his team built a new home and ministry offices for Sadie Holmes, who operates a social services ministry in the Orlando area.[35]

Howard and Royce Reed, a former dancer for the team, have a son Braylon (born November 18 2007, at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida).

Career highlights

  • NBA All-Star: 2007, 2008
  • All-NBA Third Team: 2007
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2005
  • Youngest player in NBA history to reach 3000 rebounds
  • Youngest player in NBA history to average a double-double
  • Youngest player in NBA history to record 20 rebounds in one game
  • NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion: 2008
  • Holds the highest career field goal percentage in All-Star Game history: .810 (17 field goals made of 21 attempts)

NBA career statistics

Correct as of 13 February 2008[8]
Regular season Team GP MPG SPG BPG RPG APG PPG FG% 3P% FT%
2004–05 Orlando 82 32.6 0.9 1.7 10.0 0.9 12.0 0.520 0.000 0.671
2005–06 Orlando 82 36.8 0.8 1.4 12.5 1.5 15.8 0.531 0.000 0.595
2006–07 Orlando 82 36.9 0.9 1.9 12.3 1.9 17.6 0.603 0.500 0.586
2007–08 Orlando 54 38.7 1.0 2.4 14.6 1.4 21.7 0.602 0.000 0.595
Career 300 36.0 0.9 1.7 12.1 1.5 16.3 0.564 0.100 0.606
Playoffs Team GP MPG SPG BPG RPG APG PPG FG% 3P% FT%
2006–07 Orlando 4 41.9 0.5 1.0 14.8 1.4 15.3 0.548 0.000 0.455
Career 4 41.9 0.5 1.0 14.8 1.4 15.3 0.548 0.000 0.455

Notes

  1. ^ Around the Association, nba.com, 14 November 2007, accessed 13 January 2008.
  2. ^ 'Superman' Howard, brisbanetimes.com, 17 February 2008, accessed 17 February 2008.
  3. ^ Part man, part child, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, 2 March 2007, accessed 17 February 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dwight Howard, usabasketball.com, accessed 11 July 2007.
  5. ^ Bucher, Ric, ESPN The Magazine: NEXT, sports.espn.go.com, accessed 17 February 2008.
  6. ^ a b Smith, Aran, "adidas Superstar Camp Asia: Dwight Howard Interview", nbadraft.net, 27 May 2006, accessed 11 July 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Dwight Howard Info Page - Bio, nba.com, accessed 11 July 2007.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Dwight Howard Info Page - Career Stats and Totals, nba.com, accessed 5 December 2007.
  9. ^ 2005 Award Winners, nba.com, accessed 28 March 2007.
  10. ^ Howard's 20/20, nba.com/magic, 16 November 2005, accessed 28 March 2007.
  11. ^ 2005-06 DIVISION STANDINGS, nba.com/standings, accessed 28 March 2007.
  12. ^ Box Score, nba.com, accessed 28 March 2007.
  13. ^ Raptors win sixth straight home game, tsn.ca, 7 February 2007, accessed 28 March 2007.
  14. ^ Howard Carries Magic Past Sixers, nba.com, 14 April 2007, accessed 19 April 2007.
  15. ^ Long, Mark, Magic Top Heat, Draw Pistons in First Round, nba.com, 19 April 2007, accessed 19 April 2007.
  16. ^ At a Glance 2007, nba.com/playoffs2007, accessed 1 May 2007.
  17. ^ Phoenix Duo Highlights All-NBA First Team, nba.com, 10 May 2007, accessed 12 May 2007.
  18. ^ Medeiros, Andrew, "Around the Association presented by T-Mobile: Feb. 13", nba.com, 13 February 2008, accessed 15 February 2008.
  19. ^ Schuhmann, John, "All-Star Saturday Dwight", nba.com, 17 February 2008, accessed 17 February 2008.
  20. ^ USA Routs Puerto Rico, Advances to FIBA Finals, nba.com/usabasketball, accessed 4 September 2007.
  21. ^ Season Box Score, usabasketball.com, accessed 4 September 2007.
  22. ^ James Leads U.S. Squad Past Argentina to Claim Gold, nba.com, 2 September 2007, accessed 4 September 2007.
  23. ^ Wurst, Matt, "New Arrivals To The Playoff Party", nba.com, 18 April 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.
  24. ^ Box Score, sports.espn.go.com, 10 January 2007, accessed 28 March 2007.
  25. ^ a b Bucher, Rich, "The man who just can't wait to be king", sports.espn.go.com, 10 December 2006, accessed 28 March 2007.
  26. ^ Just a 42 for 12'6" sticker slap? Bigs get no respect, espn.go.com, accessed 28 March 2007.
  27. ^ Abbot, Henry, "Howard's sticker slam wins buzz but not contest", sports.espn.go.com, 17 February 2007, accessed 28 March 2007.
  28. ^ a b Chat Transcript: Dwight Howard, nba.com/magic, accessed 28 March 2007.
  29. ^ Thorpe, David, "Scouting Report: What makes Dwight Howard so dominant?", ESPN Insider, 11 December 2007.
  30. ^ Anthony, Greg, "Biggest man, biggest honors", sports.espn.go.com, 15 December 2006, accessed 28 March 2007.
  31. ^ Neel, Eric, "No ceiling in sight", ESPN Insider, 19 December 2006
  32. ^ a b c UP CLOSE & PERSONAL, dwight-howard.com, accessed 28 March 2007.
  33. ^ a b Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. WHAT WE DO, dwight-howard.com, accessed 28 March 2007.
  34. ^ 2006 Howard & Howard Basketball Camps, dwight-howard.com, accessed 28 March 2007.
  35. ^ Extreme Makeover: Magic Style, nba.com/nbabuzz, accessed 28 March 2007.
Preceded by NBA first overall draft pick
2004 NBA Draft 		Succeeded by
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