Early Life and Education of Dwight Howard: A Complete Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Dwight Howard, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
Dwight Howard is a celebrated American professional basketball player, known as "Superman" for his athleticism. His career highlights include an NBA championship, eight All-Star selections, eight All-NBA Team recognitions, five All-Defensive Team selections, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards, marking him as one of the dominant centers of his era.
December 8, 1985: Dwight Howard Born
On December 8, 1985, Dwight David Howard II was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
1995: Inspired by Kevin Garnett
In 1995, Kevin Garnett's decision to enter the NBA draft directly out of high school partly inspired Dwight Howard's decision to do the same in 2004.
2004: High School Awards
In 2004, Dwight Howard received several awards including the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award, the Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Year Award, Gatorade National Player of the Year, and the McDonald's National High School Player of the Year honor.
2004: Debut in NBA 2K Series
Starting in 2004 with ESPN NBA 2K5, Dwight Howard began appearing in the NBA 2K series of basketball simulation video games.
2005: Debut in NBA Live Series
Starting in 2005 with NBA Live 2005, Dwight Howard began appearing in the NBA Live series of basketball simulation video games.
April 2, 2006: Appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
On April 2, 2006, Dwight Howard made a special guest appearance on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, assisting in building a new home and ministry offices for Sadie Holmes in Orlando.
2011: Guest Appearance on The Suite Life on Deck
In 2011, Dwight Howard played himself on an episode of The Suite Life on Deck, appearing alongside fellow NBA players Deron Williams and Kevin Love.
January 31, 2012: Honored as McDonald's All-American
On January 31, 2012, Dwight Howard was honored as one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans.
April 19, 2012: Howard to Undergo Back Surgery
On April 19, 2012, Dwight Howard's agent announced that Howard would undergo surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back, causing him to miss the rest of the 2011-12 season and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
2014: Featured in Documentary "In the Moment"
In 2014, Epix featured Dwight Howard as the central figure in a documentary about his life called "In the Moment".
2018: Final Appearance in NBA Live Series
In 2018, Dwight Howard made his final appearance in the NBA Live series with NBA Live 19, totaling 11 games before the series was canceled.
March 27, 2020: Death of Melissa Rios
On March 27, 2020, Melissa Rios, the mother of Dwight Howard's son David, passed away following an epileptic seizure. David was with Howard at his home in Georgia at the time.
2021: Final Appearance in NBA 2K Series
In 2021, Dwight Howard made his final appearance in the NBA 2K series with NBA 2K22, marking 18 entries in the series and covering his entire NBA career.
2022: Charitable Auction on 37th Birthday
On his 37th birthday in 2022, Dwight Howard raised over NT$3 million with a charitable auction and visited schools to inspire students.
2023: Finished Third on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test
In 2023, Dwight Howard finished third on the reality competition show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
September 4, 2024: Competed on Dancing with the Stars
On September 4, 2024, Dwight Howard began competing on the thirty-third season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Daniella Karagach.
2024: Appearance on Somebody Feed Phil
In 2024, Dwight Howard appeared in the "Taipei" episode of Netflix's Somebody Feed Phil, discussing his charity work and cultural experiences in Taiwan while enjoying local cuisine.
