Dwight Howard

 Dwight David Howard II, born on the 8th of December 1985 is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Taoyuan Leopards in the T1 League. Howard is an NBA champion, an eight-time All-Star and eight-time All-NBA Team honoree, five-time All-Defensive team participant, and three-time defensive Player of the Year.Howard, who plays center in the high school, played his career at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. He chose to forgo collegeand enlisted in the 2004 NBA draft, and was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic. Howard was a major player in many records in the league and for the Magic. Howard led the team through the 2009 NBA Finals.In 2012, after eight years with Orlando, Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he played in three separate one-year-stints during the course of his career, winning the NBA championship in the year 2020. Howard also been a player for the Houston Rockets, the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets, the Washington Wizards and the Philadelphia 76ers.Early lifeHoward was born in Atlanta in the city of his parents, Dwight Sr. and Sheryl Howard, a family that has an athletic connection that is strong. His father, a Georgia State Trooper, is currently the director of athletics at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. This private academy boasts one of the best high basketball teams in the country. His mother was a part of the first women's basketball team at Morris Brown College. Howard's mother was a victim of seven miscarriages prior to when he was born. Howard, a devout Christian since his childhood, began to take interest in basketball when he was nine. [3][4] Despite his large body, Howard was quick and flexible enough to play the guard position. [4] Howard attended Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. He was primarily an offensive forward. In 129 games, he averaged 16.6 points, 13.4 rebound and 6.3 blocks per game. 1 4 Howard, as a senior, steered his team to a record of 31-2 and the 2004 state championship.[4][5] He averaged 25 points 18 boards, 8.1 blocks, and 3.5 assists per match. He was also widely acknowledged as the top American basketball player in high school during the year, and was awarded the Naismith Prep Player of the Month Award as well as the Morgan Wootten High School Player of the YEAR Award, the Gatorade National Player of the Year and the McDonald's National High School Player of the year honor and the Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Week Award. Howard was also co-MVP (with J. R. Smith) of the McDonald's All-American Game that year. [6] On January 31, 2012, Howard was honored as one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans.Professional careerOrlando Magic (2004-2012)Early years (2004-2008Following his high school successes, Howard chose to forego college and declared for the 2004 NBA draft--a decision partly inspired by his idol Kevin Garnett who had done the same in 1995--where the Orlando Magic selected him first overall over UConn junior Emeka Okafor. [1][4] He took the number 12 for his jersey, partly because it was the opposite of Garnett's number 21 when the team was Minnesota. Howard was a part of the Magic team that had only 21 wins during the previous season. Additionally, Tracy McGrady, a regular NBA All-Star was also on the team. [4] Howard however, made an immediate impression. He finished his debut season with an average of 12 points and 10 rebounds,[9] setting several NBA records in the process. He was the youngest player in NBA history to average a double double in the season's regular season. [6] He was also the first player in NBA history to average at least 10 rebounds in a season. Howard's contribution to the Magic was highlighted by his first season in the league as the first player to play every one of the of 82 NBA games straight out of high school. Howard was selected unanimously to the All-Rookie Team for his efforts during the 2005 NBA Rookie Challenge. Howard also placed third in the Rookies of The Year vote. Howard reported to camp after gaining 20 pounds during the off-season. Brian Hill, Orlando coach and the person in charge of Shaquille O’Neal's training, decided that Howard should be made a full-time centre. Hill pointed out two areas that Howard had to work on the post-up game of his players and his defense. Hill added pressure to Howard in a statement that the Magic needed him to be a strong player in the middle if they were going to make it to the playoffs. On November 15th, 2005 in a game played at home against the Charlotte Bobcats, Howard recorded 21 points and 20 rebounds. He was the youngest player ever to score more than 20 points and gather 20 or more rebounds during the same match. Howard was selected to participate in the 2006 Rookie Challenge, during which Howard was on the Sophomore Team. He averaged 15.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, ranking second in the NBA in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds, and double-doubles , and sixth for the field-goal percentage. Despite Howard's improvement however, the Magic ended the season with a 36-46 record and were not able to make the playoffs for the second season since Howard's arrival.Howard and Jameer Nelson in 2008 2006-07 season (and for the third time in a row season), Howard played in all 82 regular-season games. Howard was named an alternate for the Eastern Conference team in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. Howard scored the game-winning alley-oop against the San Antonio Spurs on February 9. Howard also set a new record for his career with 35 points against Philadelphia 76ers. Under his leadership, the Magic were the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Magic were defeated by the Detroit Pistons during the first round. 16) For the entire season, Howard averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 per game in rebounds and was ranked first in the NBA in total rebounds and second in field-goal percentage, and ninth in blocks. Howard was selected to the All-NBA third team at the conclusion of the of the 2006-07 season. His impressive performances helped the Magic to have their most successful season yet. Howard was named as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team. [18] On February 16, 2008 Howard was the winner of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest by receiving 78% of the fan's votes via text messaging or online voting; in that contest, he performed a series of innovative dunks said to have rejuvenated the competition, such as wearing the Superman cape for one of his dunks. Howard helped lead the Magic to their first division championship in twelve years. They also were third for the 2008 NBA Playoffs. [19] In their first round match-up against the Toronto Raptors, Howard's dominance (three 20-point, 20-rebound games) helped Orlando to win five games. Howard's total for the series of 91 rebounds was also higher than the total number of rebound count of the entire Toronto frontcourt. The Magic lost five games in the second round to Detroit's Pistons. Howard was picked for the All-NBA First Team as well as the NBA All-Defensive 2 Team.