Dwight Howard: The Inside Stuff

A rising star in the NBA points others to the Bright and Morning Star.

By Robert Bruce

Dwight Howard isn't your "normal" 21-year-old.

At 6 feet, 11 inches and 240 pounds, the up-and-coming basketball superstar gained national recognition in 2004 when the Orlando Magic selected him as the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft.

In the last two years, Dwight has been one of the sports world's brightest stars. He represented the United States at the 2006 World Championships. In February, the young superstar was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine, in addition to being chosen by the league's coaches as an NBA All-Star.

During All-Star Weekend, Howard participated in the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest, sparking a small controversy with his now-famous "Sticker Dunk." Dwight jumped 12½ feet in the air, placed a sticker near the top of the backboard with one hand, and slammed the basketball through the net with the other. The dunk was a hot topic on sports talk radio around the U.S., but not because of the message on the sticker, "Phil. 4:13--All things through Christ." It became the source of controversy after many fans thought the five judges gave Dwight a score that was too low.

Currently on the verge of leading the Orlando Magic to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2003, Dwight understands God has put him in the position to make a big impact for Jesus Christ. But it hasn't been easy. "Everything I thought the NBA would be like ... it is. I knew that it was going be tough physically and mentally and spiritually. You know, it's even tougher," Dwight says. "I'm glad that my parents and my school and my church laid a foundation to where I know what's right and what's wrong."

This young man's road to success started long before he caught the eye of NBA scouts and the national media. Surrounded by a loving Christian family, Dwight spent his early years in church, at school, or playing sports. Regardless of the activity, he was always the center of attention.

Dwight Howard, Sr. recalls his son's early days, "He was always a little comedian--he was always the tallest kid in the class... Whether it was pee-wee baseball when he was out on the mound pitching, or pee-wee football... I would always tell him, 'God has something special for you.'"

Though he's barely past his teen years, Dwight's basketball ability is evident the moment he steps on the court. The soft-spoken, Atlanta, Georgia native matches up against veteran NBA superstars--including Shaquille O' Neal, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett--for 82 games a season.

He's achieved more fame and material success in three years than most of us will accomplish in our lifetimes. But, Dwight realizes true success isn't about money or celebrity. "I really don't care about having the money, the nice house, the cars, because [they] can be taken away--basketball can be taken away," Dwight says. "But as long as I know that I have peace, then that's...success.

(Photo credit: NBAE)

Ask Dwight about the source of his peace, and he's quick to point out that his achievements wouldn't have been possible without God working through him. This willingness to submit to the Lord's will began in junior high school, when Dwight started to realize that God had a purpose for his life. He asked God, "What do you want me to do with my life... and He said, 'I want you to preach the word of God in the NBA.'"

From that point on, Dwight relentlessly pursued the Lord's will for his life. He's called to share God's love and grace inside one of America's premiere sports leagues. "I just want to make sure I lead by example. I knew I was going to make mistakes, and I just wanted to let [the other players] know that you can be a Christian and be in the NBA."

Being young, single, and wealthy, Dwight--like most NBA players--faces his share of temptation while traveling to cities across the country during the season. "I just try to stay away from most of the [bad] things that could happen to an NBA player," he says. "If I do go out, I go to places that won't get me in trouble."

Distractions aren't the only difficult aspect of NBA life. With teams stretched from Miami to Seattle and Boston to Sacramento, NBA players spend hundreds of hours traveling each year. "We're always moving. Even when you have time off, you're so tired, you just want to sleep in," he says.

But Dwight makes it a priority to spend time in the Bible each day. "I read the Word every time I get on the plane, or [when] we're going from the bus to the plane... that really helps."

Dwight doesn't hide his faith, and his teammates have taken notice. "These guys look up to me like I'm a 50-year-old man," he laughs. Sometimes, other players will approach him with spiritual questions, asking him which verses to read for insight into different situations. Or, they ask him what the Bible says about a certain topic. God uses these encounters to reach Dwight's teammates with the Gospel.

"One of my teammates... didn't understand what blasphemy was. So, thankfully I had read up on that like two or three days before he asked me. I was ready to tell him about everything he needed to know."

When asked about how he shares the Gospel, Dwight emphasizes that he doesn't force his faith down their throats. "I don't want to just... come down on [my teammates] like, 'You need to do this. You need to do that.' Because [if I did], they'd be like, 'Oh man, get out of here.'"

Instead, Dwight works on building relationships in the locker room, realizing that a vital part of sharing his faith involves building trust--being there to listen to his teammates when they need him. He describes a situation in which another player was angry and lashed out at him. "I just let him say what he had to say, and I listened to him," Dwight explains. "So now he's like 'Well, Dwight listens so I can [talk to] him.'"

While Dwight's teammates are drawn to him because of his consistent faith, thousands of kids look up to him as a role model. Dwight's father recognizes the responsibility his son has as a successful, Christian athlete. "He can be a role model for all kids," Dwight Howard Sr. says. "And, he can show the world that Jesus is the reason that he's there."

Fernando Medina (NBAE/Getty Images)

Into the future, Mr. Howard sees great things for his son. "As a basketball player, if he continues to work hard he will be one of the best ever. But I pray that... his sincere desire [is] to be one of the most anointed men of God that has ever played in the NBA--on and off the court."

If the first three years of his professional career are any indication, Dwight Howard will not only make his mark in the NBA record book, but he will also impact the spiritual landscape of the league. And he'll be the first to tell you that no matter how many thirty-point, fifteen-rebound games he records, the only thing that really matters is fulfilling God's purpose for his life--spreading the message of Christ throughout the NBA.