Dwight Howard
Perhaps no player generates more mixed emotions for Orlando Magic fans than Dwight Howard. With regards to on-court production and accolades during his time in Orlando, Dwight Howard probably sits alone.
Howard’s post-Orlando career which involved moving teams eight times (including three separate stints with the Los Angelos Lakers) became much of a punch line among NBA fans. So much so, that it’s likely clouded our view of just how good Howard was during his time in Orlando. Dare I say, Howard’s now underrated?
Yes, there was the constant angst around Howard getting offensive touches. The turmoil with coach Stan Van Gundy. And of course, the demands to leave that left an incredibly bad taste in the mouths of Magic fans (forever reeling from Shaq’s early Orlando departure). But we’re also talking five All-Star appearances, four First Team All-NBA’s, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and of course a run to the NBA Finals with the 2009 Orlando Magic roster. Whether Orlando fans like it or not, no player in Orlando history has the Orlando Magic specific resume of Dwight Howard.
Dwight Howard joined the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft. Unless you were a fan during this time, you might not realize just how heated the debate in the NBA community was regarding the decision to take the unproven, high school player in Dwight Howard or the proven, college basketball star in Emeka Okafor. The Magic went with perhaps the more risky choice, but also the one with the higher upside. And boy, did they nail it.
While Okafor edged out Howard for Rookie of the Year honors, that’s about all he has on Howard. From then on, Howard blossomed into a franchise player with regular All-Star and All-NBA honors and Okafor’s career became largely a disappointment.
During the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Dwight Howard made an appearance during the Orlando vs. Cleveland playoff game, cheering on his former team. With the introduction to the home crowd, the Orlando fans embraced their former star big man, and perhaps Orlando and Dwight Howard are now on a path toward focusing on the fond memories of Howard’s time in Orlando as opposed to the controversies that surrounded it.
Dwight Howard was inducted to the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame on March 24, 2025.
Dwight Howard Regular Season Stats
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | 82 | 32:39 | 12.0 | 10.0 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 8.3 | 52.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 5.0 | 67.1 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 6.5 |
| 2005-06 | 82 | 36:50 | 15.8 | 12.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 5.7 | 10.7 | 53.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 7.3 | 59.5 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 9.0 |
| 2006-07 | 82 | 36:52 | 17.6 | 12.3 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 6.4 | 10.6 | 60.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 4.8 | 8.1 | 58.6 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 8.8 |
| 2007-08 | 82 | 37:39 | 20.7 | 14.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 7.1 | 11.9 | 59.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 10.9 | 59.0 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 10.8 |
| 2008-09 | 79 | 35:42 | 20.6 | 13.8 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 7.1 | 12.4 | 57.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.4 | 10.7 | 59.4 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 9.6 |
| 2009-10 | 82 | 34:40 | 18.3 | 13.2 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 10.2 | 61.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 10.0 | 59.2 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 9.7 |
| 2010-11 | 78 | 37:37 | 22.9 | 14.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 7.9 | 13.4 | 59.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 7.0 | 11.7 | 59.6 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 10.1 |
| 2011-12 | 54 | 38:19 | 20.6 | 14.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 7.7 | 13.4 | 57.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 5.2 | 10.6 | 49.1 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 10.8 |
| 2012-13 | 76 | 35:48 | 17.1 | 12.4 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 6.2 | 10.7 | 57.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 16.7 | 4.7 | 9.5 | 49.2 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 9.1 |
| 2019-20 | 69 | 18:55 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 72.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 60.0 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 51.4 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 4.9 |
| 2020-21 | 69 | 17:19 | 7.0 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 58.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 25.0 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 57.6 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 5.7 |
| 2021-22 | 60 | 16:10 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 61.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 53.3 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 65.8 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 4.0 |
| 621 | 36:11 | 18.4 | 13.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 6.5 | 11.3 | 57.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 9.2 | 58.8 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 9.3 | ||
| 69 | 17:19 | 7.0 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 58.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 25.0 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 57.6 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 5.7 | ||
| 895 | 32:02 | 15.8 | 11.7 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 5.6 | 9.6 | 58.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 22.8 | 4.5 | 7.8 | 57.7 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 8.3 | ||
| 205 | 24:22 | 10.7 | 8.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 3.9 | 6.4 | 61.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 46.1 | 2.7 | 5.3 | 51.9 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 6.2 |
Dwight Howard Playoff Stats
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 4 | 41:51 | 15.3 | 14.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 5.8 | 10.5 | 54.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 8.3 | 45.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 10.8 |
| 2007-08 | 10 | 42:08 | 18.9 | 15.8 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 7.2 | 12.4 | 58.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 8.3 | 54.2 | 3.2 | 6.0 | 9.8 |
| 2008-09 | 23 | 39:14 | 20.3 | 15.3 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 7.0 | 11.7 | 60.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6.3 | 9.9 | 63.6 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 11.0 |
| 2009-10 | 14 | 35:30 | 18.1 | 11.1 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 6.1 | 10.0 | 61.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 11.3 | 51.9 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 8.4 |
| 2010-11 | 6 | 42:56 | 27.0 | 15.5 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 8.5 | 13.5 | 63.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 10.0 | 14.7 | 68.2 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 11.0 |
| 2012-13 | 4 | 31:33 | 17.0 | 10.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 6.5 | 10.5 | 61.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 44.4 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 8.3 |
| 2019-20 | 18 | 15:39 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 68.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 55.6 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 |
| 2020-21 | 12 | 12:25 | 4.7 | 6.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 53.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 60.0 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.1 |
| 22 | 18:33 | 7.8 | 5.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 65.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 50.1 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 50.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.8 | ||
| 12 | 12:25 | 4.7 | 6.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 53.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 60.0 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 4.1 | ||
| 91 | 30:48 | 15.0 | 11.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 5.2 | 8.6 | 60.5 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 16.7 | 4.5 | 7.8 | 57.9 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 7.8 | ||
| 57 | 39:24 | 19.9 | 14.4 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 6.9 | 11.5 | 60.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 10.4 | 58.8 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 10.1 |
Dwight Howard Best Ten Games (Points)
| Date | Opponent | MIN | PTS | AST | REB | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2011 | Atlanta Hawks (L) | 45:48 | 46 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 23 | 0.70 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 14 | 22 | 0.64 | 8 | 6 | 13 |
| Feb 17, 2009 | Charlotte Bobcats (W) | 46:41 | 45 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 23 | 0.70 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 13 | 18 | 0.72 | 5 | 8 | 11 |
| Jan 12, 2012 | Golden State Warriors (W) | 43:37 | 45 | 3 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 21 | 0.57 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 21 | 39 | 0.54 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
| Jan 28, 2011 | Chicago Bulls (L) | 42:18 | 40 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 0.70 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 12 | 16 | 0.75 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| May 30, 2009 | Cleveland Cavaliers (W) | 41:27 | 40 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 21 | 0.67 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 12 | 16 | 0.75 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Feb 25, 2011 | Oklahoma City Thunder (W) | 42:18 | 40 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 0.80 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 8 | 12 | 0.67 | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Nov 28, 2007 | Seattle SuperSonics (W) | 41:24 | 39 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 0.71 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 15 | 20 | 0.75 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
| Dec 09, 2010 | Portland Trail Blazers (L) | 43:00 | 39 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 20 | 0.65 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 13 | 18 | 0.72 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| Jan 04, 2009 | Toronto Raptors (L) | 36:38 | 39 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 19 | 0.74 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 11 | 18 | 0.61 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Jan 13, 2011 | Oklahoma City Thunder (L) | 42:50 | 39 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 0.58 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 17 | 20 | 0.85 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
Dwight Howard’s Career After Orlando
After eight seasons in Orlando, Dwight Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers (after numerous requests to be traded). Throughout Howard’s post-Orlando career, he moved around quite a bit playing for six different teams as well as playing for the Lakers three separate times. Howard played more seasons outside of Orlando than in Orlando, but his most notably seasons are undoubtedly as part of the Orlando Magic.
Overall, Howard played 1242 games throughout his long career in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers (2012-13, 2019-20, 2021-22)
While Dwight Howard mimicked the previous superstar center who left central Florida for the bright lights of Los Angeles, his Lakers career was quite different from Shaquille O’Neal’s LA career. While peak-Shaq wreaked havoc on the rest of the league as part of the Lakers, the LA version of Dwight Howard was a diminished version of Orlando Dwight and only lasted a single season.
Despite coming off back surgery, Howard was still a productive player during the 2012-13 season playing in 76 games and averaging 35.8 minutes per game. He also averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game during this season. At the end of the season, the Lakers were swept by the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, and the uninspiring playoff appearance was further marked by Howard’s ejection in game 4 in the third quarter.
Howard was named to the Third Team All-NBA following the season and played well enough to be offered a five year, $118 million contract by the Lakers in the offseason (Howard, however, would leave to join James Harden in Houston).
Howard returned to the Lakers ahead of the 2019-20 season on a veteran’s minimum contract. While his contributions were minimal as a backup, Howard had significant contributions during the playoff run helping the Lakers win an NBA Championship. Notably, Howard had 12 points and 11 rebounds in a key game against the Denver Nuggets. This season marked Dwight Howard’s only NBA Championship of his career.
Howard also played his last NBA season again with the Lakers during the 2021-22 season as a backup to Anthony Davis. He averaged 16.2 minutes per game and 6.2 points per game. The Lakers missed the playoffs.
Houston Rockets (2013-16)
Howard played three seasons with the Rockets, and his first season there was especially notably as he averaged 18.3 points and 12.2 rebounds earning All-NBA Second Team honors. Injuries impacted his second season, but during the third season with Houston, Howard again played 71 games, though he averaged only 13.7 points per game.
Dwight Howard’s Career Playoff Stats
Dwight Howard played 125 NBA Playoff games throughout his career.
During his time in Orlando, Howard averaged 19.9 points per game across 57 playoff games. Howard’s playoff stats during his post-Orlando career include:
- 2013 Playoffs (Lakers): 4 games, 31.5 mpg, 17 ppg, 10.8 rpg
- 2014 Playoffs (Rockets): 6 games, 38.5 mpg, 26.0 ppg, 13.7 rpg
- 2015 Playoffs (Rockets): 17 games, 33.8 mpg, 16.4 ppg, 14.0 rpg
- 2016 Playoffs (Rockets): 5 games, 36.0 mpg, 13.2 ppg, 14.0 rpg
- 2017 Playoffs (Hawks): 6 games, 26.1 mpg, 8.0 ppg, 10.7 rpg
- 2020 Playoffs (Lakers): 18 games, 15.7 mpg, 5.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg
- 2021 Playoffs (76ers): 12 games, 12.4 mpg, 4.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Dwight Howard Career Accolades
Dwight Howard had many career accolades both as part of the Orlando Magic franchise and across his career as a whole.
- Dwight Howard is the Orlando Magic career leading scorer with 11,435 points.
- Dwight Howard’s 14,627 rebounds over the course of his career remains 10th in NBA history for most rebounds in a playing career.
- Dwight Howard’s 2,228 blocks during his career is 13th in NBA history. Note: Shaq is 8th with 2,732.
- Dwight Howard is in the top 50 of NBA players ever with respect to games played in a career (1242).