History of Dwight Howard in Timeline
Dwight Howard, nicknamed "Superman," is a former American professional basketball player. He achieved significant accolades, including an NBA championship, eight All-Star selections, eight All-NBA Team selections, five All-Defensive Team selections, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Howard was known for his athleticism and defensive skills.
1962: Broke Wilt Chamberlain's record of 34 free throws
Dwight Howard broke Wilt Chamberlain's record of 34 free throws set in 1962.
December 8, 1985: Dwight Howard's Birth
On December 8, 1985, Dwight David Howard II was born. He is an American former professional basketball player, later nicknamed "Superman", who would become an NBA champion, eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA Team honoree, five-time All-Defensive Team member, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
1995: Inspired by Kevin Garnett
In 1995, Kevin Garnett's decision to forego college and enter the NBA draft served as inspiration for Dwight Howard's decision to do the same in 2004.
2004: Declared for the NBA Draft
In 2004, Dwight Howard declared for the NBA draft and was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic.
2004: High School Successes and Awards
In 2004, Dwight Howard led his team to a 31–2 record and the state title, averaging 25 points, 18 rebounds, 8.1 blocks and 3.5 assists per game. He received 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. He was also co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game that year.
2004: Drafted by the Orlando Magic
In 2004, Dwight Howard, having forgone college, was selected first overall in the NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.
2004: Establishment of the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc.
In 2004, Dwight Howard, together with his parents, established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. to support his philanthropic efforts.
2004: NBA 2K5 Appearance
Starting in 2004 with ESPN NBA 2K5, Dwight Howard appeared in the NBA 2K series of basketball simulation video games.
November 15, 2005: Youngest to score 20+ points and 20+ rebounds in a game
On November 15, 2005, Dwight Howard became the youngest player ever to score 20 or more points and gather 20 or more rebounds in the same game, recording 21 points and 20 rebounds against the Charlotte Bobcats.
2005: NBA Live Debut
In 2005, Dwight Howard debuted in the NBA Live series with NBA Live 2005.
2005: Selected to All-Rookie Team
In 2005, Dwight Howard was selected to play in the 2005 NBA Rookie Challenge, was unanimously selected to the All-Rookie Team, and finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting.
March 5, 2006: Named to USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team
On March 5, 2006, Dwight Howard was named to the 2006–2008 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program.
April 2, 2006: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Appearance
On April 2, 2006, Dwight Howard made a special guest appearance on an episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". He assisted Ty Pennington and his team in building a new home and ministry offices for Sadie Holmes in Orlando.
2006: Played on the Sophomore Team
Dwight Howard was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the 2006 Rookie Challenge during the All-Star break.
2006: Played in 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: David Thorpe Declares Howard Most Dominant Center
In December 2007, ESPN writer David Thorpe declared Dwight Howard the most dominant center in the NBA, highlighting his early career promise.
2007: Continued Posting Impressive Numbers
Dwight Howard continued posting impressive numbers in the 2007–08 season and helped the Magic have their best season to date.
2007: NBA Rebounding Leader
In 2007, Dwight Howard began a streak of leading the NBA in rebounding.
February 16, 2008: Won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest
On February 16, 2008, Dwight Howard won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest by receiving 78% of the fan's votes, he rejuvenated the contest with innovative dunks, including wearing a Superman cape.
June 23, 2008: Named to 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: Began the Season Leading in Blocks Per Game
The 2008–09 season began well for Dwight Howard. Ten games into the 2008 season, he was leading the league in blocks per game (4.2).
November 2009: Jefferson Awards Finalist
In November 2009, Dwight Howard was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, recognizing athletes for their charitable work.
2009: NBA Playoffs Game Praise
Following a game in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Andre Iguodala remarked on Dwight Howard's exceptional defensive abilities, stating he could effectively guard two players at once.
2009: Named Defensive Player of the Year
In 2009, Dwight Howard became the youngest player ever to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
2009: Led the Magic to the NBA Finals
In 2009, Dwight Howard led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals.
2009: The Magic got off to a strong start
In the 2009–10 season, the Magic got off to a strong start, winning 17 of their first 21 games and setting a franchise record.
January 21, 2010: Named All-Star Starter
On January 21, 2010, Dwight Howard was named as the starting center for the East in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.
2010: Defamation Judgment Against Royce Reed
In 2010, Dwight Howard won a defamation judgment against Royce Reed, the mother of his oldest child. A Florida judge ruled that she violated a court order by mentioning Howard in the media.
2010: Won Defensive Player of the Year Award
In 2010, Dwight Howard won the Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second straight year and became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season twice—and for two years in a row.
2011: Won Defensive Player of the Year Honors for the Third Consecutive Season
In 2011, Dwight Howard became the first player in league history to win Defensive Player of the Year honors for three consecutive seasons.
2011: Demanded a Trade
In 2011, Dwight Howard demanded a trade to the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks, stating that he did not feel the Magic organization was doing enough to build a championship contender.
2011: The Suite Life on Deck Appearance
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: Vertical Leap Test
In 2011, Dwight Howard's running vertical leap was tested at 39.5 inches, demonstrating his exceptional athleticism for a player of his size.
January 12, 2012: Attempted a Record 39 Free Throws
On January 12, 2012, Dwight Howard attempted an NBA regular season record 39 free throws against the Golden State Warriors, making 21 of them and finishing with 45 points and 23 rebounds.
January 24, 2012: Became the Magic's All-Time Scoring Leader
On January 24, 2012, Dwight Howard became the Orlando Magic's all-time scoring leader.
January 31, 2012: Honored as one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans
On January 31, 2012, Dwight Howard was honored as one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans.
March 15, 2012: Waived Right to Opt Out of Contract
On March 15, 2012, Dwight Howard waived his right to opt out of his contract at the end of the season and committed to stay with the Magic through the 2012–13 season.
April 19, 2012: Underwent Surgery for Herniated Disk
On April 19, 2012, Dwight Howard's agent announced that he 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.
August 10, 2012: Trade 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 also involving the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets.
2012: NBA Rebounding Leader
In 2012, Dwight Howard once again led the NBA in rebounding.
2012: Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
In 2012, after eight seasons with the Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
January 4, 2013: Right shoulder injury
On January 4, 2013, Dwight Howard injured his right shoulder in the second half of the Lakers' 107–102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
July 13, 2013: Signing with the Houston Rockets
On July 13, 2013, Dwight Howard signed with the Houston Rockets, partnering with James Harden.
2013: NBA Rebounding Leader
In 2013, Dwight Howard continued to dominate, leading the NBA in rebounding for the last time.
2013: Negative Locker Room Presence
In 2013, Dwight Howard publicly criticized his former Orlando Magic teammates, calling them a "team full of people no one wanted." A Bleacher Report article also asserted that he had "extinguished all bridges" with the Magic franchise.
October 2014: Abuse Allegations Investigated
In October 2014, police in Cobb County, Georgia, investigated claims by Royce Reed that Dwight Howard abused their son, Braylon. Howard admitted to hitting Braylon with a belt, but was not charged.
2014: Epix Documentary: In the Moment
In 2014, Epix featured Dwight Howard as the focus of a documentary about his life titled "In the Moment".
2014: "Free Palestine" Tweet Controversy
In 2014, during the Gaza war, Dwight Howard tweeted "Free Palestine", leading to NBA commissioner Adam Silver instructing him to remove the tweet and issue an apology.
November 4, 2015: 23 points and 14 rebounds against the 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 to make 10 or more field goals without a miss since Yao Ming did it in 2009.
2015: Teammate Incident
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 reputation of interpersonal issues.
January 18, 2016: 36 points and 26 rebounds vs Los Angeles Clippers
On January 18, 2016, in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Dwight Howard scored 36 points and tied a career-high with 26 rebounds, achieving his 10th consecutive double-double.
June 22, 2016: Declined player option with Rockets
On June 22, 2016, Dwight Howard declined his $23 million player option for the 2016–17 season, becoming an unrestricted free agent.
July 12, 2016: Signed with the 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: Traded to Brooklyn 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.
July 12, 2018: Signed with the Washington Wizards
On July 12, 2018, Dwight Howard signed with the Washington Wizards.
2018: Final NBA Live Appearance
In 2018, Dwight Howard made his final appearance in the NBA Live series, which was canceled following NBA Live 19.
2018: Reports of Interpersonal Strife
In 2018, reports surfaced from NBC News and The Ringer detailing Dwight Howard's history of interpersonal strife with the Magic, Lakers, and Rockets, labeling him as "almost certainly the least popular player in the NBA".
April 18, 2019: Exercised player option with Wizards
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: Traded to Memphis Grizzlies
On July 6, 2019, Dwight Howard was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for forward C. J. Miles.
August 24, 2019: Waived by the Grizzlies
On August 24, 2019, Dwight Howard was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies.
August 26, 2019: Signed with Los Angeles Lakers
On August 26, 2019, Dwight Howard signed a $2.6 million veteran's minimum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, marking his return to the team.
2019: Lakers' Warning
In 2019, when the Lakers signed Dwight Howard, the team reportedly warned him that he would be dismissed if he engaged in any "tomfoolery or shenanigans", highlighting his reputation for causing issues.
January 13, 2020: Season-high 21 points against opponent
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: Signed with the Philadelphia 76ers
On November 21, 2020, Dwight Howard signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers worth $2,564,753.
2020: NBA Championship with the Lakers
In 2020, Dwight Howard won an NBA championship as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
August 6, 2021: Signed with the Los Angeles Lakers
On August 6, 2021, Dwight Howard signed a $2.6 million veteran's minimum contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for a third stint with the team.
2021: Final NBA 2K Appearance
In 2021, Dwight Howard made his final appearance in the NBA 2K series, in NBA 2K22.
2021: Signed with the Taoyuan Leopards
In 2021, after the 2021–22 NBA season, Dwight Howard moved overseas and signed with the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League.
November 7, 2022: Signed with the Taoyuan Leopards
On November 7, 2022, Dwight Howard signed with the Taoyuan Leopards of the T1 League in Taiwan after being unable to secure a roster spot in the NBA.
2022: Charitable Auction for 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 shoes. Proceeds went to the CountryEDU Charity Foundation and the Good Shepherd Social Welfare foundation.
February 2023: Named T1 League All-Star and All-Star Game Most Famous Player
In February 2023, Dwight Howard was named an All-Star for the T1 League and the All-Star Game Most Famous Player, and was also selected to participate in the Three-Point Contest.
May 10, 2023: Selected to the T1 League 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.
July 2023: Lawsuit for Assault and Other Charges
In July 2023, Dwight Howard was sued for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment stemming from a July 2021 encounter at his Georgia residence.
2023: Special Forces: World's Toughest Test
In 2023, Dwight Howard finished third on the show "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test".
March 1, 2024: 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 never played for them.
May 30, 2024: Joined Taiwan Mustangs
On May 30, 2024, Dwight Howard joined the Taiwan Mustangs of The Asian Tournament (TAT).
August 2024: Lawsuit Dismissed
In August 2024, the lawsuit against Dwight Howard, which had been filed in July 2023, was dismissed with prejudice.
September 4, 2024: Dancing with the Stars Debut
On September 4, 2024, Dwight Howard began competing on the thirty-third season of "Dancing with the Stars", paired with Daniella Karagach.
2024: Somebody Feed Phil Appearance
In 2024, Dwight Howard appeared as a guest in the "Taipei" episode of the Netflix docu-series "Somebody Feed Phil". He discussed his charity work and cultural experiences in Taiwan with Philip Rosenthal.
2025: Induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball 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 as a member of the 2008 United States men's Olympic basketball team.
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