Dwight Howard is a future Hall of Famer. He’s also one of the most polarizing players in the NBA.
His stature as one of the most dominant forces in basketball, at its peak during his time in Orlando where he spent multiple years in the conversation for “top five player in the league”, is gone these days, although he still remains an imposing presence down low.
Now playing with Charlotte, his fourth team in the last six seasons, the eight-time all-star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 15.2 points and 12.8 rebounds for the 8-11 Hornets.
I caught up with Howard ahead of Wednesday’s game versus the Raptors for a brief Q&A that touched on his past success playing in Toronto, what his current team should learn from the Raptors, and why the NBA should do away with its one-and-done rule.
SN: You’ve had a lot of success playing in Toronto, but I always think of the first-round playoff series back in 2008 when you were on Orlando [Howard averaged 22.6 points, 18.2 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks in five games]. Is there anything different for you playing here than elsewhere?
Howard: It’s a lot of fun playing here and I really enjoy the crowd. I still remember those days playing here in the playoffs and the crowd screaming “How-ard!”
It was so loud that I remember the rims literally shaking as I was shooting free throws — or at least it looked like it. It was a lot of fun, I enjoy this building. I enjoy coming to Canada. I wished they still had two teams here because it’s a fun place to be and to play basketball.
SN: Obviously now a decade later a lot has changed for the Raptors. Back then you were mainly matched up with Rasho Nesterovic or Chris Bosh, but on this year’s team Toronto has a glut of big men, all with varying skill-sets, who they’re trying to find minutes for. Are you preparing for each potential matchup you’ll see tonight?
Howard: I don’t want to sound bad, but in all honesty it doesn’t matter to me who plays. My job isn’t going to change. No matter who they put out there you’re going to have to play, so that’s not really a concern for me as far as who exactly the Raptors have out there at the five.
Right now I’m more focused on this locker room. We’re just trying to really gain our chemistry — we’ve had some guys out with injuries — so that’s been our focus right now. Gain chemistry, and play the game from there.
SN: How does that happen in the middle of a season?
It happens off the court. On the court is a little bit harder, at first, but eventually that clicks the more you play with the same group. Off the court, though, that’s where it clicks. Once you develop some type of chemistry away from the game it leads to everything on the floor. That’s usually my mindset, and when I’ve had success that’s always been the case. A team that’s gotten together and really bonded off the court has success.
You can just look at the relationship that Kyle [Lowry] and DeMar [DeRozan] have — they’re such good friends away from the game that it makes it easier to play with each other.
It takes awhile. But they’ve pretty much mastered it. They’re great teammates, and whatever the Raptors accomplish starts with those two. It’s why they’ve been so successful over the years.
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SN: The importance of chemistry to winning — is that something you’ve learned through your years? If we were having this conversation during your earlier years…
It would have been the exact same. That’s something I learned in high school and it will never change. When you’re on a basketball team it’s like a big family.
There are two ways to go about it: You’re either going to come together, or you’re going to tear apart.
SN: It wasn’t exactly hard to make the case for you to jump from high school straight to the pros in 2005, but the very next year the NBA changed its rules to prevent that from happening. Now commissioner Adam Silver seems to be serious about potentially doing away with the one-and-done rule. Would you have benefited from going to college? Would it have made a difference?
Howard: No.
SN: Is it a problem that today’s prospects have to go to college?
Howard: I think so, depending on what college they go to. You can miss that window of opportunity by going to college — you could get injured, a coach may not want to play you and maybe you get lost in a team’s rotations. You’ve got to go [to the NBA] when you’re hot, because you never know what can happen.
And college basketball can also cause a lot of wear and tear on a lot of guys’ bodies because of the way they practise, the schedules and whatnot.
SN: I’d imagine some collegiate systems might not be the most conducive to transitioning to the NBA game as well.
Maybe. But there are still good things that can be gained by going to college — the social skills, studying and learning to manage your money. But one thing you can’t replicate is the basketball. Being able to play against NBA players every day was a huge advantage for me, plus you have access to the best coaches, the best trainers. It’s a lifestyle, on the court, that can really put you in a position of success depending on how hard you work for it.
The Raptors and Hornets tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET with pre-game coverage beginning at 7 live on Sportsnet One.
