History of Dwight Howard in Timeline
Dwight Howard, nicknamed "Superman", is a former American professional basketball player. He is an NBA champion, eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA Team selectee, five-time All-Defensive Team member, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Known for his athleticism and defensive capabilities, Howard established himself as a dominant center during his prime in the NBA.
1962: Wilt Chamberlain's Record
In the game on January 12, 2012 where Dwight Howard attempted 39 free throws, Howard broke Wilt Chamberlain's regular-season record of 34 attempts set in 1962.
December 8, 1985: Dwight Howard's Birth
On December 8, 1985, Dwight David Howard II was born. He would later become a professional basketball player known for his athletic abilities and nicknamed "Superman".
1995: Inspiration from Kevin Garnett
In 1995, Kevin Garnett's decision to go straight to the NBA inspired Dwight Howard to do the same after high school.
2004: NBA Draft and Joining the Orlando Magic
In 2004, Dwight Howard chose to forgo college and entered the NBA draft. He was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic, beginning his professional basketball career.
2004: High School Success and Awards
In 2004, Dwight Howard led his high school team to a 31–2 record and the state title. He was recognized as the best American high school basketball player and received multiple 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: Drafted by the Orlando Magic
In 2004, Dwight Howard was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic in the NBA draft after foregoing college.
2004: Established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation
In 2004, Dwight Howard, along with his parents, established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. to contribute to philanthropy.
2004: Debut in NBA 2K and NBA Live series
Starting in 2004 with ESPN NBA 2K5 and NBA Live 2005, Dwight Howard appeared in every entry of the NBA 2K and NBA Live series of basketball simulation video games throughout his NBA career.
November 15, 2005: Youngest Player with 20/20 Game
On November 15, 2005, Dwight Howard recorded 21 points and 20 rebounds against the Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the youngest player ever to achieve this feat in a single game.
2005: Led NBA in Dunks
Dwight Howard led the NBA in dunks for six consecutive seasons, from 2005-06 to 2010-2011.
2005: Impactful Rookie Season
In 2005, Dwight Howard finished his rookie season averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds, setting several NBA records and being selected to the All-Rookie Team.
2005: Debut in NBA 2K and NBA Live series
Starting in 2004 with ESPN NBA 2K5 and NBA Live 2005, Dwight Howard appeared in every entry of the NBA 2K and NBA Live series of basketball simulation video games throughout his NBA career.
March 5, 2006: Howard Named to USA Basketball Team
On March 5, 2006, Dwight Howard was named to the 2006–2008 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program.
April 2, 2006: Guest Appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
On April 2, 2006, Dwight Howard appeared as a special guest on an episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, assisting in the construction of a new home and ministry offices for Sadie Holmes.
2006: Selection to the Sophomore Team
In 2006, Dwight Howard was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the Rookie Challenge during the All-Star break, recognizing his performance in his second NBA season.
2006: Played All Regular-Season Games
In the 2006-07 season, Dwight Howard played in all 82 regular-season games for the third consecutive season.
February 1, 2007: First NBA All-Star Selection
On February 1, 2007, Dwight Howard received his first NBA All-Star selection as a reserve on the Eastern Conference squad for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.
December 2007: Named Most Dominant Center in the NBA by ESPN
In December 2007, ESPN writer David Thorpe declared Dwight Howard the most dominant center in the NBA, highlighting his early career potential.
2007: Led NBA in Dunks
Dwight Howard led the NBA in dunks for six consecutive seasons, from 2005-06 to 2010-2011, with a high of 269 dunks in the 2007-2008 season
2007: Slam Dunk Contest Performance
In 2007 Slam Dunk Contest, Dwight Howard completed an alley oop dunk from Jameer Nelson while slapping a sticker onto the backboard at 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) high. 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.
2007: Impressive Stats and Team Success
In the 2007-08 season, Dwight Howard helped the Magic have their best season to date, earning a spot as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
February 16, 2008: NBA Slam Dunk Contest Win
On February 16, 2008, Dwight Howard won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest with innovative dunks, including one with a Superman cape.
June 23, 2008: Named to the 2008 Olympic Team
On June 23, 2008, Dwight Howard was named to the 12-man squad representing the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
2008: Led NBA in Dunks
Dwight Howard led the NBA in dunks for six consecutive seasons, from 2005-06 to 2010-2011, with a high of 269 dunks in the 2007-2008 season
2008: League Leader in Blocks
In the 2008-09 season, Dwight Howard started strong, leading the league in blocks per game early in the season.
November 2009: Finalist for Jefferson Awards for Public Service
In November 2009, Dwight Howard was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which recognizes athletes for their charitable work.
2009: Praised for Defensive Abilities in 2009 NBA Playoffs
After a game in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Philadelphia 76ers swingman Andre Iguodala praised Dwight Howard's defensive abilities, noting his capacity to guard multiple players simultaneously.
2009: NBA Finals Appearance and Defensive Player of the Year
In 2009, Dwight Howard led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, marking significant achievements in his career.
2009: Leading Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals
In 2009, Dwight Howard led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals, marking a significant achievement in his career with the team.
2009: Strong Start and Playoff Run
In the 2009-10 season, the Magic had a strong start, winning 17 of their first 21 games. Howard also won the Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second straight year.
January 21, 2010: Named All-Star Starter
On January 21, 2010, Dwight Howard was named the starting center for the East in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.
2010: NBA Rebounding Leader
From 2007 to 2010, Dwight Howard led the NBA in rebounding. His rebounding ability was partly due to his extraordinary athleticism.
2010: Won Defamation Judgment Against Royce Reed
In 2010, Dwight Howard won a defamation judgment against Royce Reed, the mother of his oldest child, after she violated a court order by mentioning him in the media.
2010: Defensive Player of the Year Award
In the 2010-11 season, Dwight Howard became the first player in league history to win Defensive Player of the Year honors for three consecutive seasons.
2011: Trade Demands
In 2011, Dwight Howard demanded a trade to the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, or Dallas Mavericks, expressing concerns about the Magic's ability to contend for a championship.
2011: Guest Appearance on The Suite Life on Deck
In 2011, Dwight Howard played himself on an episode of The Suite Life on Deck alongside fellow NBA players Deron Williams and Kevin Love.
2011: Career Highs and Playoff Loss
In 2011, Dwight Howard posted career highs in points and field goal percentage, but the Magic lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
2011: Running vertical leap tested at 39.5 inches
In 2011, Dwight Howard's running vertical leap was tested at 39.5 inches (100 cm), showcasing his extraordinary athleticism for a player of his size.
January 12, 2012: Record Attempt in Free Throws
On January 12, 2012, Dwight Howard attempted an NBA regular season record of 39 free throws against the Golden State Warriors, making 21 of them and scoring 45 points with 23 rebounds.
January 24, 2012: Magic's All-Time Scoring Leader
On January 24, 2012, Dwight Howard became the Orlando Magic's all-time scoring leader, marking a significant milestone in his career with the team.
January 31, 2012: Honored as One of the Greatest McDonald's All-Americans
On January 31, 2012, Dwight Howard was honored as one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans, recognizing his high school basketball achievements.
March 15, 2012: Waiving Opt-Out Right
On March 15, 2012, Dwight Howard waived his right to opt out of his contract and committed to stay with the Magic through the 2012–13 season, amid trade requests and team management issues.
April 19, 2012: Howard to Undergo Back Surgery
On April 19, 2012, Dwight Howard's agent announced that he would undergo surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back. This injury would cause Howard to miss the remainder of the 2011–12 season and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
August 10, 2012: Howard Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
On August 10, 2012, Dwight Howard was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal involving the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets. Howard had limited preparation due to back surgery recovery.
2012: Contract Extension
Following a breakout campaign, Dwight Howard signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension that would keep him in Orlando through the 2012-13 season.
2012: NBA Rebounding Leader
From 2012 to 2013, Dwight Howard led the NBA in rebounding. His rebounding ability was partly due to his extraordinary athleticism.
2012: Trade to the Los Angeles Lakers
In 2012, after playing eight seasons with the Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, starting a new chapter in his NBA career.
January 4, 2013: Howard Injured Right Shoulder
On January 4, 2013, Dwight Howard injured his right shoulder during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. At the midpoint of the season, the Lakers' record was 17–24.
July 13, 2013: Howard Signs with the Houston Rockets
On July 13, 2013, Dwight Howard signed a four-year, $88 million contract with the Houston Rockets. He teamed up with James Harden to form a formidable duo.
2013: NBA Rebounding Leader
From 2012 to 2013, Dwight Howard led the NBA in rebounding. His rebounding ability was partly due to his extraordinary athleticism.
2013: Called former teammates a "team full of people no one wanted"
In 2013, Dwight Howard referred to his former Orlando Magic teammates as a "team full of people no one wanted," contributing to his reputation as a negative locker room presence.
October 2014: Police Investigated Abuse Claims
In October 2014, police in Cobb County, Georgia, investigated claims by Royce Reed that Dwight Howard abused their son. Howard admitted to hitting Braylon with a belt but was not charged.
2014: Tweeted 'Free Palestine' and Removed It
During the 2014 Gaza war, Dwight Howard tweeted "Free Palestine", but NBA commissioner Adam Silver immediately told him to remove the tweet and apologize.
2014: Rockets Eliminated from Playoffs
During the 2014 playoffs, Dwight Howard averaged 26 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. However, the Rockets were eliminated in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers, losing the series 4–2.
2014: Featured in Epix Documentary 'In the Moment'
In 2014, Epix featured Dwight Howard as the focal point of a documentary about his life called In the Moment.
2014: Howard Deals With Injuries During the 2014-15 Season
In the 2014-15 season, Dwight Howard missed several games due to a strained right knee and persistent issues with it. He returned to action on December 13 against the Denver Nuggets, recording his 10,000th career rebound, and again on March 25 against the New Orleans Pelicans after further setbacks. He played only 41 regular season games. Despite Howard's limited play, the Rockets clinched their first division title in over 20 years and reached the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors.
November 4, 2015: Howard's Performance Against Orlando Magic
On November 4, 2015, Dwight Howard scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against the Orlando Magic. He made all 10 of his field goal attempts, becoming the first Rocket since Yao Ming in 2009 to achieve this feat.
2015: Caught grabbing teammate's genitals
During a 2015 game while playing for the Rockets, Dwight Howard was caught on video grabbing the genitals of teammate Isaiah Canaan, adding to his controversial reputation.
January 18, 2016: Howard Ties Career High in Rebounds
On January 18, 2016, during an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Dwight Howard scored 36 points and tied his career high with 26 rebounds. This performance marked his 10th consecutive double-double, the longest active streak in the league at that time, and his longest streak since 2012–13.
June 22, 2016: Howard Declines Player Option
On June 22, 2016, Dwight Howard declined his $23 million player option for the 2016–17 season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
July 12, 2016: Howard Signs with Atlanta Hawks
On July 12, 2016, Dwight Howard signed a three-year, $70 million contract with his hometown team, the Atlanta Hawks.
July 6, 2018: Howard Traded to and Waived by Nets
On July 6, 2018, Dwight Howard was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Timofey Mozgov, the draft rights to Hamidou Diallo, a 2021 second-round draft pick, and cash considerations. He was waived by the Nets immediately after being acquired.
July 12, 2018: Howard Signs with Wizards
On July 12, 2018, Dwight Howard signed a two-year, $10.9 million contract with the Washington Wizards.
2018: NBA Live series canceled
Dwight Howard appeared in every NBA Live entry from 2004's NBA Live 2005 onwards until the series was canceled in 2018 following NBA Live 19
2018: Reported interpersonal strife and unpopularity
In 2018, reports surfaced about Dwight Howard's history of interpersonal strife with multiple teams and his reputation as "almost certainly the least popular player in the NBA".
April 18, 2019: Howard Exercises Player Option
On April 18, 2019, Dwight Howard exercised his $5.6 million player option to play a second season with the Washington Wizards.
July 6, 2019: Howard Traded to Grizzlies
On July 6, 2019, Dwight Howard was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for forward C. J. Miles.
August 24, 2019: Howard Waived by Grizzlies
On August 24, 2019, Dwight Howard was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies.
August 26, 2019: Howard Re-Signs with Lakers
On August 26, 2019, Dwight Howard signed a $2.6 million veteran's minimum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, reuniting with his former team. He replaced DeMarcus Cousins, who was injured. Howard offered to sign a non-guaranteed contract to demonstrate his commitment.
2019: Engaged to Te'a Cooper
In 2019, Dwight Howard became engaged to WNBA basketball player Te'a Cooper.
2019: Lakers warned Howard about behavior
When the Lakers signed Dwight Howard in 2019, the team reportedly warned him that he would be dismissed if he engaged in any "tomfoolery or shenanigans."
January 13, 2020: Howard Scores Season High
On January 13, 2020, Dwight Howard scored a season-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and had a season-high 15 rebounds.
March 27, 2020: Death of Melissa Rios
On March 27, 2020, Melissa Rios, the mother of Dwight Howard's son David, died following an epileptic seizure. David was with Howard at his home in Georgia at the time.
November 21, 2020: Howard Signs with 76ers
On November 21, 2020, Dwight Howard signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for $2,564,753.
2020: NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers
In 2020, Dwight Howard won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, marking a significant accomplishment in his career.
August 6, 2021: Howard Signs with Lakers Again
On August 6, 2021, Dwight Howard signed a $2.6 million veteran's minimum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
2021: Final Appearance in NBA 2K
Dwight Howard appeared in every entry of the NBA 2K series of basketball simulation video games up until 2021's NBA 2K22, totaling 18 entries and covering his entire NBA career.
2021: Parted Ways with Te'a Cooper
In 2021, Dwight Howard and Te'a Cooper ended their relationship.
2021: Signing with the Taoyuan Leopards
In 2021, after the NBA season, Dwight Howard moved overseas and signed with the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League, marking a new phase in his basketball career.
November 7, 2022: Howard Signs with Taoyuan Leopards
On November 7, 2022, Dwight Howard signed with the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League in Taiwan.
2022: Charitable Auction on 37th Birthday
On his 37th birthday in 2022, Dwight Howard raised over NT$3 million (US$97,969) with a charitable auction, featuring collectible jerseys and pairs of shoes worn by Howard. Beneficiaries included CountryEDU Charity Foundation and the Good Shepherd Social Welfare foundation.
February 2023: Howard Named All-Star in T1 League
In February 2023, Dwight Howard was named an All-Star and All-Star Game Most Famous Player for the T1 League. He also participated in the Three-Point Contest.
May 10, 2023: Howard Selected to All-Defensive First Team
On May 10, 2023, Dwight Howard was selected to the T1 League All-Defensive First Team for the 2022–23 season.
2023: Finished Third on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test
In 2023, Dwight Howard finished third on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
March 1, 2024: Howard Briefly Signed with Mets de Guaynabo
On March 1, 2024, Dwight Howard briefly signed with the Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, but he never played for them.
May 30, 2024: Howard Joins Taiwan Mustangs
On May 30, 2024, Dwight Howard joined the Taiwan Mustangs of The Asian Tournament (TAT).
August 2024: Lawsuit Dismissed with Prejudice
In August 2024, the lawsuit against Dwight Howard for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment was dismissed with prejudice.
September 4, 2024: Competed on Dancing with the Stars
On September 4, 2024, Dwight Howard competed on the thirty-third season of Dancing with the Stars, paired with Daniella Karagach.
2024: Announced Engagement to Amy Luciani
In 2024, Dwight Howard announced his engagement to rapper and reality star Amy Luciani.
2024: Guest Appearance on Somebody Feed Phil
In 2024, Dwight Howard appeared as a guest in the "Taipei" episode of the Netflix docu-series Somebody Feed Phil, discussing his charity work and experiencing Taiwanese and Hong Kong cuisine.
January 2025: Marriage to Amy Luciani
In January 2025, Dwight Howard married rapper and reality star Amy Luciani in a private ceremony.
July 2025: Divorce Filing by Amy Luciani
In July 2025, Amy Luciani filed for divorce from Dwight Howard, citing that the marriage was "irretrievably broken".
2025: Howard to be Inducted into Hall of Fame
In 2025, Dwight Howard was chosen to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as an individual player and also as a member of the 2008 United States men's Olympic basketball team.
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