Quick Facts about Dwight Howard
Full Name | Dwight David Howard II |
Birth Date | December 08, 1985 |
Birth Place | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
NickName(s) | Superman D Howard D-12 Steel Man Foul on You |
Nationality | American |
Education | Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy |
Horoscope | Sagittarius |
Father’s Name | Dwight Howard, Sr. |
Mother’s Name | Sheryl Howard |
Sibling(s) | 1 Brother, 1 Sister |
Age | 36 Years Old |
Height | 6 feet, 11 inches |
Weight | 120 Kgs |
Profession | Basketball |
Position | Center |
Wingspan | 88.5 inches |
Active Years | 2004 – present |
Marital Status | Single |
Kids | 5 |
Net Worth | $140 Million |
Salary | $5,603,850 |
Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
Last Update | July, 2022 |
Dwight David Howard is an American professional basketball player playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA (National Basketball Association) with jersey number 39.
The eight-time NBA All-Star has been playing in the professional league since 2004s and has set numerous records with teams like Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and currently in Los Angeles Lakers.
Known for his amazing playstyle, Dwight is considered one of the best defensive players and greatest rebounders in the sport’s history.
Playing in the center position, he is currently NBA’s leading player in rebounds, offensive and total, and blocked shots.
This former 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and a potential Hall of Fame personality have an immense fan following that always wants to know more about him, so today, we will be taking you through his life – professional and personal records, his net worth, and more.
Dwight Howard | Early Life, Education & Parents
Dwight Howard has had an influence and passion for basketball since he was a child, having been born into a family with athletic roots in basketball.
And Dwight Sr., his father, was the Athletic Director at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, one of the top national high school basketball programs and facilities in the country.
Similarly, his mother, Sheryl Howard, was a basketball player who had played on Morris Brown College’s first women’s basketball team.
Before giving birth to Dwight Howard, she had seven miscarriages.
Similarly, following in his parents’ footsteps, Dwight became serious about basketball around the age of nine and enrolled in SACA (Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy) to further his career.
He won the Best National High School Basketball Award after quickly becoming known for his play.
Howard averaged 16.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game as a power forward while leading his high school to a 31-2 record and winning the state championship.
Dwight is a devout Christian who has stated that he wants to use his NBA career and Christian faith to “raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world.”
Dwight Howard’s Age, Height, and Body Dimensions
The athlete is now 34 years old, having been born on December 8, 1985. He is 6 feet 11 inches tall (2.11 m) and weighs approximately 120kg (nearly 230 pounds).
Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic Career (2004-2012)
Dwight skipped college and immediately entered the 2004 NBA Draft, where he was selected with the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic.
Given his high school records and accomplishments, he was placed ahead of the team in the season and proved his worth by breaking new records such as becoming the NBA’s youngest player to record 20 rebounds in a game.
He was also named to the NBA Rookie Challenge All-Rookie Team in 2005. Dwight then trained to be a formidable force in the defensive area, where he played center.
While the Magic always seemed to fall short, Howard and the team seemed to get better with each match.
In the 2006-07 season, he was named to his first All-Star Team and was also named to the All-NBA Third Team.
Howard won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in February 2008 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team and NBA All-First Team the following season.
Dwight became the NBA’s youngest Defensive Player of the Year after leading his team to the Finals in the 2008-09 season.
Later that season, he topped the NBA list for Rebounds and Blocks for the second time in a row.
Following that, in the 2010-11 season, Howard became the first player in NBA history to be named Best Defensive Player of the Year three times in a row.
Despite the fact that the Orlando Magic are now winning, he asked to be traded from the team.
Lakers of Los Angeles (2012-2013)
His 2012 season was one of his first setbacks, which were largely due to his numerous injuries.
Despite a disappointing season, he led the NBA in rebounding and thus earned yet another All-NBA-Third Team honor.
Rockets of Houston (2013-2016)
Dwight faced a bumpy road during his three seasons with the Houston Rockets, but he accomplished a few more feats, including All NBA-Second Team and reaching 15,000 career points in December of 2015.
While only reaching the finals once with the Rockets, Dwight also suffered a severe knee injury that sidelined him for four months from December 14 to March 15.
Howard became a free agent after declining a contract with the Houston Rockets after his third season with them.
The Atlanta Hawks (2016-2017)
Dwight had a great season with the Hawks after signing a three-year contract and had the most rebounds by any team member in their debut match with the Atlanta Hawks.
Hornets of Charlotte (2017-2018)
Despite having a good season, the athlete was traded to the Charlotte Hornets the following year.
Beginning to set new records from the moment he arrived in June 2017, Dwight became the eighth player in league history to record a 30-30 point game in March 2018.
He also joined an elite group of six players who scored a double-double in their first 13 NBA seasons. He was traded again in July 2018.
Wizards of Washington (2018-2019)
While the new season provided him with new opportunities, it also provided him with a slew of injuries to deal with. In addition, he returned to the Wizards in April 2019 for a second season before being traded again in July 2019.
The Atlanta Hawks (2019-Present)
Dwight was returned to one of his former teams in 2019, with whom he has been playing since.
Due to his history of injuries the previous season, Howard agreed to sign a non-guaranteed contract, giving the Atlanta Hawks the option to release him at any time.
Stats for Dwight Howard
On the basketball court, Dwight Howard is a joy to watch. Basketball-reference.com has his career statistics available.
Dwight Howard’s Salary and Net Worth
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 in 2022.
Furthermore, with a net worth of $140 million, this sportsman has attracted serious names with his performances, as evidenced by his salary growth over the years.
Dwight Howard’s earnings have risen from around $4 million in 2004 with the Orlando Magic to nearly $23 million in 2015.
When you consider his salary and all of the other endorsements he is a part of because of his popularity, this basketball player earns more than $30 million per year as of 2022. Peak Sport has also signed him as an endorser.
Along with this, he was spotted with his stunning Ferrari FF, which debuted in 2011, and was also rumored to have purchased a lavish in Los Angeles for nearly $20 million, which was his yearly salary back then.
While Howard has always been a part of multi-year contracts throughout his career with the Orlando Magic, Houston Rocket, and others, he signed a one-of-a-kind contract with the Lakers in 2019.
He was paid nearly $14.5 thousand per day he was on their roster for this contract, and it was also stated that the Lakers would only be viable for $6,000 if he got injured before the season.
As a result, the Los Angeles Lakers are reducing the risk of injury pay.
Dwight Howard’s Girlfriend and Children
Everyone is well aware that Dwight Howard has five different children from five different women. He also has his fair share of abuse and defamation allegations, which have thrown his personality into disarray.
In 2010, he filed a defamation suit against one of his children’s mothers, Royce Reed, who had publicly disclosed and discussed their relationship on numerous shows.
Reed was fined $500 for publicly mentioning Howard’s name on two separate occasions due to a contractual obligation.
A few years later, he was accused of child abuse after an investigation in 2014 revealed that Howard had beaten his son with a belt. The player defended himself by claiming that his parents disciplined him as a child.
Dwight Howard | Dwight Howard Foundation
Howard is very involved in philanthropy and giving back to society. In 2004, he established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation.
The foundation’s goal is to provide scholarships to students interested in attending his alma mater, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. Similarly, it provides grants to Orlando, Florida’s Lovell Elementary School and Memorial Middle School.
In addition, the NBA player organizes summer basketball camps for both boys and girls, working with high school and college coaches and players. Furthermore, he invites his fellow NBA players to attend the camps.
He rightfully contributes for the people with whom he shares his basketball passion.
Dwight Howard | Online Presence
Dwight is active on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, but he is rarely active on Twitter. He spends more time on Instagram than he does on Twitter.
And He has around 2.9 million Instagram followers, where he mostly posts match highlights, pictures of his team, and other things.
He doesn’t spend much time on Facebook. You can find some of his favorite NBA moments and basketball-related videos if you search his account.
He has more followers on Twitter than he does on Instagram. Howard has 6.5 million followers on Twitter and tweets frequently.
In his most recent tweet, he retweeted Shams Charania, an NBA writer and analyst.
LakerNation thank you. 4 more I truly appreciate all of your support. pic.twitter.com/LJgNrga6BO
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) September 27, 2020
Common Queries about Dwight Howard
Why was Dwight Howard admitted to the hospital?
Dwight Howard was admitted to the hospital in 2016 after he became ill on the plane flight. He was rushed to the hospital after landing in Atlanta. He was then treated for dehydration.
Howard was returning from a promotional trip in China for his shoe sponsor, Peak, when he got ill.
What is Dwight Howard’s D joke with the interviewing reporter?
Howard said to the FOX Sports reporter, “Our D was good tonight, so we got to make sure our D stays good.”
He further added, “it’s very important, but it starts with the D. We got to make sure we keep playing good defense.”
D stands from defense but Howard and his teammate Dennis Schroder’s reaction clearly showed that this was not the case here. It was in the postgame interview following the 119-114 victory of the Atlanta Hawks over the Chicago Bulls
Nonetheless, Howard at the end of the interview used the word “defense” as an attempt to clear the mess.
How much Dwight Howard’s contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth?
Dwight Howard’s signed a one-year contract worth $2.56 million with the Los Angeles Lakers in August 2019.
What is Dwight Howard’s message issue?
Dwight Howard accidentally displayed his messages on the screen. He pressed the wrong button, leaking his messages via live.
The conversation seemed to be between Howard and his fiancee Te’a Cooper of the Los Angeles Sparks. Howard seemed to be explaining something to Cooper.
How good was prime Dwight Howard?
Howard has been considered one of the top 5 players in the NBA. He had a mesmerizing career, playing some really intense defense.
He has a positive influence on the audience. However, he is not considered as dominant as the top 10 centers in NBA history.
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