Dwight Howard is a professional basketball player. Howard, who plays center, chose to forgo college and entered the NBA draft, after high school.

Howard was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic in 2004. Howard set numerous franchise and league records during his time with the Magic. Howard led the NBA in rebounding from 2007 to 2010, and again from 2012 to 2013. In 2009, he led the team to the NBA Finals. In 2012, after eight seasons with Orlando, Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Following a one-year stint with the Lakers, he played for the Houston Rockets, the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Washington Wizards. Howard returned to the Lakers in 2019 and won his first NBA championship in 2020. Howard is 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.

Together with his parents, Howard established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. in 2004. In November 2009, the center was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work.As of Feburary 2021, Howard still plays in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers.