Watch: Dwight Howard scores 22/30 for Salsa routine with Daniella Karagach on 'Dancing with the Stars' premiere
One-time NBA champion Dwight Howard kicked off his journey in Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday, showing his skills in the Latin American dance form of Salsa.
The Orlando Magic legend and his dance partner Daniella Karagach moved to the music of the Montell Jordan hit "This Is How We Do It," executing a crisp routine seamlessly despite their conspicuous height difference. For their effort, they garnered a score of 22/30 from the judges.
Check out their dance routine below:
Dancing with the Stars is the latest foray of Dwight Howard since last playing in the NBA in the 2021-22 season for a third tour of duty with the LA Lakers, where he won his lone NBA title in 2020.
Since leaving the NBA, 'D12' has played in the Taiwan league and suited up for a team in the Philippines for an international tournament.
In 18 seasons in the NBA, Dwight Howard posted career averages of 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 1,242 games. He was an eight-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA First Team member, three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, five-time rebounding leader and a former slam dunk champion.
On Dancing with the Stars this season, he joins a diverse list of contestants, which include fellow athletes Danny Amendola (football) and Stephen Nedoroscik (gymnastics) as well as actors Eric Roberts, Tori Spelling and Reginald Veljohnson.
In joining the popular ABC show, Howard said he is motivated by his son, Trey, and wanted to show him that one can do anything as along one put their mind into it.
Dwight Howard wants to suit up one more time for the Orlando Magic before retiring
While he has been busy doing other things and has not been rostered in an NBA team since 2022, Dwight Howard still wants one more chance to play for the Orlando Magic before he calls it a career.
Selected first overall in the 2004 draft by the Magic straight from high school, it was in Orlando where Howard first made a name for himself and had his best years in the NBA.
He left the team in 2012 and had stops in Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, LA Lakers and Philadelphia after. Now in the tailend of his career, the 38-year-old wants one more chance to play for the Magic.
Dwight Howard shared this on The OGs podcast back in May, saying, (beginning at 15:55):
"[The Magic] need one with experience. They need one veteran... If I could go back with a team, I gotta finish with the Magic. It's only right."
Check out what he had to say below:
Dwight Howard played eight seasons with the Magic and averaged 18.4 points, 13 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.5 assists and a steal.