.jpg) Howard as head coach ofMichigan in 2020 | |
| Brooklyn Nets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Assistant coach |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1973-02-07)February 7, 1973 (age 52) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Chicago Vocational |
| College | Michigan (1991–1994) |
| NBA draft | 1994: 1st round, 5th overall pick |
| Selected by theWashington Bullets | |
| Playing career | 1994–2013 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Number | 5, 7, 55, 6 |
| Coaching career | 2013–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1994–2001 | Washington Bullets / Wizards |
| 2001–2002 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2002–2003 | Denver Nuggets |
| 2003–2004 | Orlando Magic |
| 2004–2007 | Houston Rockets |
| 2007–2008 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2008 | Denver Nuggets |
| 2008–2009 | Charlotte Bobcats |
| 2009–2010 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2010–2013 | Miami Heat |
| As coach: | |
| 2013–2019 | Miami Heat (assistant) |
| 2019–2024 | Michigan |
| 2024–present | Brooklyn Nets (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As coach:
| |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 16,159 (13.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 7,428 (6.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,663 (2.2 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Juwan Antonio Howard (/dʒuːˈwɑːn/joo-WAWN; born February 7, 1973)[1] is an American professionalbasketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for theBrooklyn Nets of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He previously served as the head coach of theMichigan Wolverines men's team from 2019 to 2024 before joining the Nets in 2024.
A one-timeAll-Star and one-timeAll-NBApower forward, he began his NBA career as the fifth overall pick in the1994 NBA draft, selected by theWashington Bullets. Before he was drafted, he starred as anAll-American on theMichigan Wolverines men's basketball team. At Michigan he was part of theFab Five recruiting class of 1991 that reached the finals of theNCAA tournament in1992 and1993.
Howard was an All-Americancenter and anhonors student atChicago Vocational Career Academy. Michigan was able to sign him early over numerous competing offers and then convince others in his recruiting class to join him. The Fab Five, which includedChris Webber,Jalen Rose,Jimmy King andRay Jackson, served as regularstarters during their freshman and sophomore years for the1991–92 and1992–93 Wolverines. Although many of the Wolverines' accomplishments of the 1990s were vacated due toNCAA rules violations committed by four members of the program, Howard was not personally implicated in the scandal and his1993–94 All-American season continues to be recognized.
After one season as anAll-Rookie player and a second as an All-Star and an All-NBA performer, he became the first NBA player to sign a $100 million contract. In 2010, he signed with theMiami Heat and went on to make his first careerNBA Finals appearance. He remained with the Heat the following season and won his first NBA championship during the 2012 NBA Finals. He returned to the Heat for part of the following season, and won a second championship. After retiring as a player in 2013, he remained with the Heat organization as an assistant coach for the next six seasons, before accepting the head coaching position at Michigan in 2019.
Howard earned numerous awards for his performance as a coach in the 2020–21 season, including AP National Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year. Howard became the second Michigan basketball coach to earn AP National Coach of the Year honors.[2] Howard also became the first coach to earn a No.1 seed as both a player and coach, after the Wolverines secured a No.1 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.[3]
Howard's grandmother, Jannie Mae Howard, was the daughter ofsharecroppers fromBelzoni, Mississippi. She had four daughters by her 19th birthday, including Howard's mother Helena. Helena was an employee at a Chicago restaurant when she became pregnant with Juwan. Howard's father, Leroy Watson, had just returned from the Army to a phone company job in Chicago. The two married quickly once they realized Helena was pregnant. For Howard's first week of life, his high school junior mother kept him in a drawer at Jannie Mae's house.[4] Helena, who was 17 years old, did not want to be restricted or burdened raising her child, so Jannie Mae adopted him.[5] His biological father, Leroy Watson Jr., wanted to name him Leroy Watson, III, but his grandmother rejected the suggestion, insisting on Juwan Antonio Howard.[6] Although his mother visited on occasion as he was growing up, his grandmother raised him,[4] along with two cousins.[7] Howard has no siblings and is not close to his biological parents;[8] his grandmother was the primary influence in his life.[4] He moved with her to several low-incomeChicago South Side projects; she kept him out of trouble and away from gangs as he was growing up.[4] One of their residences was a three-bedroom apartment on 69th Street on the South Side of Chicago.[5] As he blossomed under his grandmother's influence and discipline, he became her "pride and joy".[5]
Howard went toChicago Vocational Career Academy, where he went on to play three seasons of varsity basketball.[9] Vocational had an unheated gym and nolocker rooms, which required that the team dress for games in a history classroom.[7] Nonetheless, Howard went on to be named a 1991 All-American basketball player byParade magazine and wonMcDonald's All American honors. He was also chosen for theNational Honor Society and served as Vocational'shomecoming king.[5][6][10][11] During recruiting visits by college coaches such asIllinois'Lou Henson,DePaul'sJoey Meyer andMichigan'sSteve Fisher, Jannie Mae Howard did most of the questioning.[6]
At the start of his sophomore year in 1988, Howard was 15 years old and already expected to be a covetedblue chip recruit in 1991.[12] He was regarded as one of the best sophomore basketball players in theChicago metropolitan area.[13] He scored 26 points in aChicago Public High School League quarterfinal loss against aDeon Thomas-ledSimeon Career Academy team. Vocational ended the year with a 23–7 record.[14] Howard was a second-team selection and the only sophomore named to the league coaches' 20-man 1988–89 All-Public League team.[15][16]
The summer after his sophomore year, the 6-foot-8-inch (2.03 m) center attended theNike Academic Betterment and Career Development (ABCD) camp, which was held annually inPrinceton, New Jersey, during the late 1980s.[17] There he was matched against the 7-foot-4-inch (2.24 m)Shawn Bradley. At this camp, even though the much-taller Bradleyblocked his shots several times, Howard established himself as one of the best junior-yearbig men in the country.[18] He was involved in controversy for receiving a second pair ofsneakers at the camp because he was suspected of stealing them.[19] Howard denied theft, but he was sent home on the last day of the six-day camp.[19]
Howard also participated in the Bill Cronauer camp inRensselaer, Indiana, which more than 100 college coaches attended. According to theChicago Sun-Times, he was ranked as one of the top 10underclassmen in the country during the camp.[19][20] Howard attended other camps that summer; his goal was to overcome Thomas, who was the reigningChicago Tribune basketball player of the year,[21] as the best big man in the state.[19] By the time he ended his college career in 1994, Howard was drafted a full round ahead of Thomas.[22]
As Howard entered his junior year, some sources listed him as the best junior basketball player in Illinois,[23] while others rankedTom Kleinschmidt ahead of him.[24] Taylor Bell of theChicago Sun-Times noted that Howard was leaning toward playing either for DePaul or for Illinois. Howard was interested in Illinois because Thomas, whom Howard admired, had become a member of the1989–90 Fighting Illini team.[23] By the end of his junior year, league coaches named him to the first-team All-Chicago Public School League.[25] He was selected to theChicago Sun-Times All-Area team as well as the Class-AA All-State team and established himself as the top Chicago-area junior ahead of Kleinschmidt.[26][27][28] Howard had a sub-par performance againstKing High School in the Chicago Public School League semifinals,[29] but theChicago Tribune named him to its All-State second team.[30] Vocational finished the year 24–7.[31]
Howard was also an honors student.[29] After his junior year, he was one of 10 Illinois players invited back to the Nike All-American Camp at Princeton. Others invited included Kleinschmidt,Donnie Boyce,William Gates,Billy Taylor,Rashard Griffith andHoward Nathan.[32] Although Howard was considered one of the top prospects in the city of Chicago at that time, the player perceived as the best Chicago-area prospect wasGlenn Robinson ofGary, Indiana.[33] By this time, Howard had eliminated DePaul from consideration since Deryl Cunningham, another Chicago-area all-star who might have otherwise convinced Howard to stay in Chicago, had transferred toKansas State. He was considering Michigan,Michigan State,Kentucky,Arizona,Dayton,Marquette and Illinois.[33] Howard was evaluated as the best senior basketball player at the camp; the group of players in attendance includedChris Webber,Cherokee Parks, Robinson andAlan Henderson.[29][34]
After being namedMost Valuable Player (MVP) at the prestigious Boston Shootout and acknowledged as the leading participant at the Nike camp, Howard was mentioned as the best prospect in the country. By this time, he had dropped Michigan State and Illinois from his list of possible college destinations and had begun consideringUNLV as well.[29] Following his time at the Nike camp, his household was besieged by recruiters. Howard issued the following statement: "Contact my coach. I do not want my grandmother and aunt upset about calls at all times of the day and night. I'm not the only person who lives in this house. I think my wishes should be respected. If not, when it comes time to make my decision, I'll take those things into account."[35] Although Howard was the best performer at the camp, talent scout Bob Gibbons felt Webber and Robinson were equally talented prospects.[36] Despite Howard's most recently listed college preferences and the fact that the team was under investigation for recruiting violations, Illinois continued pursuing Howard as its number one recruit.[37] By the end of July 1990, Howard was projected to sign with Michigan.[38]
During Michigan's in-home visit, Howard's grandmother treated Michiganhead coach Fisher, his assistantsMike Boyd and Brian Dutcher, Vocational coach Cook, Vocational assistant coach Donnie Kirskey, Lois Howard (Howard's aunt) and Howard to asoul food dinner.[39] Dutcher had the responsibility to contact Howard several times a week.[40] Howard grew close to assistant coach Kirskey, often staying at his house and using his car once he got adriver's license.[41] During the summer 1990 30-day visitation period, Dutcher watched Howard practice 28 consecutive days.[40] Dutcher developed an understanding of the dynamics of Howard's relationship with his grandmother. While other coaches, such asLute Olson, almost ignored her during the recruiting, Dutcher understood that she was the key influence on his life,[4] and understood that Kirskey also had sway with Howard. He encouraged Fisher to hire Kirskey for a summer basketball camp, which became the young athlete's introduction toAnn Arbor, Michigan.[41]
Howard was the president of Vocational's Senior Boys' Council.[42] In the final days before his senior season decision regarding hiscollege basketball team, Howard wavered betweenArizona State and Michigan. He also made an official visit to Dayton.[30] Despite the ongoing recruiting scandal, he made an unofficial visit to Illinois, which had recruited four of the five previous Chicago Public School League Illinois Players of the Year.[43] At the time of his decision, Howard was considered one of the top five seniors in the country, but unlike many top basketball recruits, he decided not to hold a press conference to announce his choice.[44] Although the official signing period was set for November 14–21, 1990, he selected Michigan on November 2.[45] Howard's grandmother died of a heart attack a few hours after he announced that he would attend Michigan,[5] and he moved in with his high school coach, Richard Cook.[6]
Howard averaged 26.9 points, 8.4rebounds and 3.4assists during his senior season,[5] and finished in the top 10 percent of his academic class.[46] He took Vocational to the Public League semifinals where they lost toWestinghouse College Prep, finishing with a 25–5 record, despite his 25 points and 12 rebounds.[47] He befriendedJimmy King when they visited Michigan on the same weekend; according to theChicago Tribune Fisher Howard influenced King's decision to also enroll there.[5][48] According to Clyde Travis of theChicago Sun-Times, Howard's verbal commitment made up for Fisher's failure to recruitEric Montross the prior year,[49] even though Montross's father and grandfather had played for Michigan.[50] WithJalen Rose, Webber, Howard and King—along withRay Jackson, a less-heralded prospect—the Michigan recruiting class was considered to be the best in the nation.[51] Some regarded the class as among the greatest recruiting classes of all time.[52][53]
As a senior, Howard edged Griffith andKiwane Garris for the most votes to theSun-Times' annual All-Chicago Public School League boys' basketball team.[54] He was also selected to the All-Area team and was a repeat Class-AA All-State selection.[55][56] Howard, Kleinschmidt and Robinson were all selected to the 10-member first team ofParade magazine's 40-member high school All-America boys' basketball team.[11] They were also chosen to play in the McDonald's All-America game.[10] West MVP Webber posted 28 points and 12 rebounds in the game; with Howard adding 16 points. The West won 108–106.[57] Howard also earned the Gatorade Circle of Champions' Illinois Player of the Year Award.[58] Howard'sACT test score was high enough to make him eligible underProposition 48 academic requirements to play as a freshman.[59] Only eight of the top 25 Chicago Public School League players achieved a qualifying score on the test.[60]
Howard matriculated to the University of Michigan and joined his fellow freshmen for the1991–92 Michigan Wolverines in forming a group that became known as theFab Five. He also joined future NBA personalitiesEric Riley andRob Pelinka.[61] As Michigan celebratedMidnight Madness on October 15, 1991, there was already talk that at least four of the five freshmen would be starting before the season ended.[62] (The five eventually started in a combined 304 of a possible 350 man-games among them during their first two seasons.)[63] Early in his freshman season, Howard started in some games and came off the bench in others for the highly rated Wolverines.[64] Over time, he won a starting role from Riley.[65] In Michigan's first matchup against Illinois, Howard scored 13 points and denied Thomas the ball consistently enough to hold him to 8 shots. His biggest contribution in the game was getting his hand on a loose ball to force ajump ball with 16 seconds left and Michigan leading by only three points.[66] In theElite Eight round of the1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, Michigan faced aJimmy Jackson-ledOhio State Buckeyes team that had beaten them twice during the regular season by double-digit margins.[67] Michigan won the rematch, during which the Fab Five scored all but two of the Wolverines' points.[68]
The victory gave the 24–8 Wolverines a berth in theFinal Four, where they found themselves matched against a 29–4Bob Huggins-coachedCincinnati Bearcats team that averaged 83.6points per game and had lost to only three teams, two of which had beaten Michigan.[69]Nick Van Exel led Cincinnati in postseason scoring.[70] Howard, King and Riley shaved their heads for the game.[71] Michigan won and earned a rematch with aDuke Blue Devils team that had beaten them by three points in overtime in December.[5][72] In the initial contest, Howard had scored only four points.[5] Entering the final game, he was averaging 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds for the season.[5] The day before the game, Howard had stomach cramps and fever and received fluids to combat dehydration. As a result, he was exempted from mandatory media meetings.[73][74] Howard was part of a rotation with Webber and Riley that guarded the National Player of the Year,Christian Laettner.[5] During Laettner's first six possessions against Howard, Laettner dribbled the basketball off his foot, missed a shot, threw a pass that resulted in aturnover,traveled, threw the ball away and hit the backboard with a shot.[5] Duke scored in its final 12 possessions of the championship game, going on a 23–6 run to win by a final margin of 71–51.[75] Despite his condition, Howard contributed 9 points in 29 minutes.[73] Howard earned a reputation for his quick feet, ability to grasp fundamentals, and excellent moves in thelow post, but also for his 1-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio and a high number offouls.[5]
As his sophomore year began, media reports alleged that three Wolverines basketball players were paid $300 each to participate in a charity basketball tournament in mid-1992, during the off-season. The reports further alleged that some others, including Howard, appeared at several summer basketball camps together, which was a possible violation of NCAA rules.[76] At the beginning of his1992–93 sophomore season, Michigan returned its top nine scorers and began the season ranked number one in the country by theAssociated Press.[77] Michigan lost its second game of the season in a rematch withDuke.[78] Howard was described as the steadiest player on the team that season by coach Fisher.[79] During the season, Howard purchased a million-dollar disability insurance policy approved by the NCAA under the Exceptional Student Athlete Disability Insurance Program available to student-athletes who are projected to be chosen high in the NBA,National Football League (NFL), andMajor League Baseball drafts.[80]
In the semifinals of the1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament againstKentucky, Howard contributed on offense and heldJamal Mashburn in check defensively; Mashburn did not make a field goal in the last 12:36 of regulation.[81][82] SportswriterJay Mariotti wrote that Howard had done "a terrific defensive job" in guarding Mashburn.[81] The 31–4 Wolverines were matched up against the 33–4North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game; both Fisher and North Carolina head coachDean Smith were seeking their second national title.[83] During the championship game Howard picked up his secondpersonal foul with 9 minutes 42 seconds remaining in the first half and was soon substituted out as the entire team dealt with an accumulation of fouls.[84][85] The game would be remembered for a latetechnical foul against Webber for attempting to call atime out when the Wolverines had none left; this led to a Tar Heels victory.[85][86] Over the course of the season, Howard averaged 14.6 points and 7.4 rebounds.[87] After the season, Webber and Howard were invited to try out for the United States national basketball team that would compete at the1993 World University Games andUnder-22 World Championships.[88] Howard did not make the team.[89]
With Webber's departure for the NBA after his sophomore season, the1993–94 Wolverines team entered the season ranked fifth in the nation as it opened the season against number 13Georgia Tech.[90] Since his grandmother had been born on December 25, Howard got a tattoo reading "Jannie Mae" over his heart during Christmas break.[7] During the season, Howard contracted thechicken pox in January.[91] Michigan had a 21–6 (13–4Big Ten) record and tied with thePurdue Boilermakers for the conference lead with one game remaining.[92] Michigan then lost (for the third time in its last four games) to a strugglingNorthwestern Wildcats team,[93] and finished second in the Big Ten.[94] After the season, Howard was selected as a first team All-Big-Ten member along with his teammate Rose, Purdue's Robinson, Michigan State'sShawn Respert, and Indiana'sDamon Bailey.[95] In the opening round of the1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, Howard helped Michigan to a 78–74 overtime victory overPepperdine by scoring 28 points and adding 9 rebounds before fouling out.[96] In the second round, Howard posted 34 points and 18 rebounds to lead the team to an 84–79 victory overTexas.[97] Michigan faced aJoe Smith-ledMaryland in the Sweet Sixteen round.[94] Howard scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds before fouling out with 2:49 remaining in the 78–71 victory.[98] Howard earned the regional MVP award with a game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds in the Elite Eight round, despite collecting two fouls in the first two minutes and losing against theArkansas Razorbacks, which hadUnited States PresidentBill Clinton in attendance as a vocal supporter.[99]
On April 18, Howard announced his intention to enter the1994 NBA draft.[100] The following day, Rose announced he would enter the draft as well.[101] Howard was 37credit hours short of University of Michigan degree requirements, but said he intended to keep his promise to his grandmother that he would earn his diploma.[102]Howard left Michigan after being named an Associated Press third teamAll-American during his junior year, and was taken by theWashington Bullets fifth overall in the 1994 NBA Draft.[103] Howard was represented byDavid Falk.[104]
Howard became the first NBA athlete who entered the draft early and graduated with his academic class,[105] thus fulfilling a promise he had made to his grandmother on the last day he saw her alive.[106][107] He toldMitch Albom that when he made it to the NBA, he realized how much leisure time the multimillionaire players had and decided to do something productive instead of find ways to spend his new riches. "I knew if I kept pushing it off, I'd never get it done", he said. He completed his final 32 course hours by taking summer classes in 1994 during the NBA off-season. He took correspondence classes andindependent study courses during the following season, studying on road trips and mailing in his papers from the nearest post office. In the end, he earned aBachelor of Arts degree in communications at Michigan. He told Albom that earning his degree made him a better example when speaking about staying in school.[107] Although Howard had spent the prior year playing in the NBA, he returned to campus to partake in graduation ceremonies with his classmates.[106] During the graduation, keynote speakerMarian Wright Edelman paid special recognition to Howard and Fab Five teammates King and Jackson, who graduated together, and noted that Howard's graduation made him a role model for children.[108]
Although the Fab Five's games in the Final Four have since been forfeited,[109] Howard was not among the players, which includedRobert Traylor, Webber, Rose,Maurice Taylor, andLouis Bullock, called before agrand jury to testify[110] in theUniversity of Michigan basketball scandal. He was not implicated in the scandal.[111] Although Michigan erased many of its records and accomplishments from 1992 to 1998 as part of self-imposed sanctions, Howard's status as a 1993–94 All-American remained intact.[63]
Entering the1994–95 season, the NBA players and owners had not yet agreed on the terms of a newcollective bargaining agreement, and Howard was unsigned two weeks before training camp began. He continued to train in Chicago in late September amidst rumors that his draft rights could be traded to another team.[104] While holding out, he was rumored to be part of a trade package with theChicago Bulls that includedCalbert Cheaney and a first-round draft choice in exchange forScottie Pippen.[112][113] Another rumor had Howard being packaged withRex Chapman andDon MacLean for Pippen.[114] On November 9, eleventh overall 1994 NBA draft selectionCarlos Rogers signed an NBA contract, making Howard the last first-round selection without a contract.[115] He missed most of the first month of the season and resided at anO'Hare Airport hotel while protracted talks continued.[112] Howard's agentDavid Falk said that one of the main problems was that the Bullets wanted Howard to sign for a lower average salary than number six selectionSharone Wright.[7] The Bullets stuck to a 10-year, $30 million ($63.6 million in 2024 dollars[116]) offer.[117] On November 17,[118] Howard signed what was believed to be a 12-year, $37.5 million ($79.6 million) contract.[112] Howard's contract, whichSports Illustrated later said was an 11-year $36 million ($76.4 million) deal, had anescape clause.[7] Once he signed, he was reunited with Michigan teammate Webber as a member of the Bullets.[119] Webber, who had also sat out training camp and the first eight games of the season,[120] was traded from theGolden State Warriors to the Bullets on November 18 forTom Gugliotta and three first-round draft choices.[118]
After Webber joined the Bullets, many thought that the two former Fab Five members would bring success to the team, coached by Lynam. The Washington front line was expected to include Webber, Howard, andKevin Duckworth and to haveGheorghe Mureșan, a 7-foot-7-inch (231 cm)Romanian center, coming off the bench.[120] Chapman, MacLean, Cheaney,Mitchell Butler andScott Skiles were expected to provide solid perimeter play.[120] Experts projected the Bullets as contenders for the Eastern Conference title.[120] The Howard/Webber Bullets debut against theBoston Celtics established new Bulletstelevision ratings records for theHome Team Sports network.[121] However, the early season trade left the team in a state of confusion due to lack of familiarity, which resulted in communication difficulties on the court.[122] Howard eventually moved into the starting lineup.[112] As a power forward, Howard posted impressive numbers after he became a regular starter.[112] Howard participated in the February 11, 1995,NBA All-Star weekend events as a member of theRookie Challenge.[123] He earned second team All-Rookie honors at the end of the season.[103] That month, he became the second Bullet (since the award's inception in 1981) and first sinceJeff Ruland in January 1982 to be named NBA Rookie of the Month.[124] During the month he averaged 20.1 points, 8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 14 games, including his first two 30-point games.[125] The following month Howard suffered an ankle injury, missing a total of 10 games (all of which were Bullets losses).[126] Over the course of the season, he averaged 17.0 points per game and posted 17double-doubles in 65 games played (52 starts).[103][127] He totalled 30 points or more on three separate occasions.[127]
At the end of his rookie season Howard finished his undergraduate degree, andgraduated from the University of Michigan, becoming the first NBA player to graduate after leaving college early.
In the preseason, the Bullets played theDetroit Pistons in an October game at the University of Michigan'sCrisler Arena, marking a homecoming for Howard. Webber was sidelined with a shoulder injury and missed the homecoming.[128] Prior to the1995–96 season, the Bullets were expected to be a contender with Webber, Howard, Muresan,Mark Price, andRobert Pack. However, Webber, Price and Pack missed almost the entire year (65, 75 and 51 games, respectively) because of injuries.[129]
Howard earned his only careerNBA All-Star Game selection for the February 11,1996 game.[103] He concluded the season by scoring at least 20 points in his last 16 games.[130] Howard became just the second player in Washington franchise history, afterBernard King, to post back-to-back 40-point games (againstBoston on April 17, 1996, with 40, and atToronto on April 19, 1996, with 42).[131][132] The 42 points proved to be his career high.[133] His strong finish earned him an NBA Player of the Month award for April.[105] In spite of the injuries to key teammates, 1995–96 was Howard's best season, statistically. During the season, he finished third in the NBA in minutes played, 6th in points scored and 10th in points per game (22.1).[103] He was the Bullets' leading scorer.[134] Over the course of the season, he accumulated 22 double-doubles in 81 games, including 6 in his last 8 games.[130] At the end of the season, he was named to theAll-NBA team.[103] In addition to his two 40-point performances, he posted 3 additional 30-point performances and scored at least 20 points in 56 of 81 games.[130] Averaging 22.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists,[133] he helped the Bullets record 39 victories.[135] This was not enough for the Bullets to make the playoffs during their ninth consecutive losing season.[136]
After averaging 17 points per game as a rookie and more than 22 per game in his second season, Howard became a free agent when the Bullets made some salary cap transactions. The Bullets offered Howard an $89 million contract, but theMiami Heat outbid them with a seven-year deal estimated to be worth $98 to $101 million. However, according to the NBA league office, the Heat miscalculated their available salary under thesalary cap by excluding performance bonuses forTim Hardaway andP. J. Brown and failing to account for the impact of renegotiatingAlonzo Mourning's contract before coming to terms with Howard.[137] The league rejected the contract on July 31 because Howard's $9 million for the1996–97 season placed the Heat over the cap.[137][138] Howard then re-signed with the Bullets on August 5. He became the first player in NBA history to sign a contract worth more than $100 million;[139][140] his seven-year contract was worth $105 million (equivalent to $211,000,000 in 2024). The league ruled on August 5 that the Bullets could re-sign Howard after having renounced his rights on July 15 to free up cap room to signTracy Murray andLorenzo Williams if they forfeited their1997 NBA draft first-round selection rights.[141] The Bullets were not limited by the cap because they were re-signing their own player.[138] The Heat pursued legal remedy in Florida state courts, seeking acknowledgment of the prior validity and superiority of their earlier contract.[141] Although an arbitration case involving the two contracts that Howard had signed appeared likely,ESPN reported that the Heat dropped their legal pursuit of Howard.[142] The league moved for federal jurisdiction although the case remained on the docket forNew York University Law professor Daniel Collins to serve as arbitrator on three issues. Meanwhile, the Heat's contract was protected by atemporary injunction in Florida state court, which forbade any newer contract by Howard from abrogating his Miami contract.[134] The Heat eventually dropped their case but the team, especially head coachPat Riley, continued to vehemently claim that their case of wrongdoing in the form of erroneous rulings by the league had been very solid.[143][144] If the Heat had pursued arbitration and had been found guilty of violating the salary cap, the team could have been fined $5 million and Heat coach Riley could have been suspended for the season. By dropping their actions, the Heat avoided any possible penalties.[145]
As a statement against gun violence, Bullets ownerAbe Pollin sought to change the franchise's name.[146] The Bullets became theWashington Wizards after asking fans to vote on the name.[147] Although before the1996–97 NBA season the Bullets/Wizards were expected to make the playoffs with Webber, Howard, and Strickland, there were rumors that Webber had difficulty adjusting to being a less important part of the offensive game plan in the presence of All-Star Howard.[148] Howard was plagued withshin splints, causing him to miss several preseason games.[149] On November 11, 1996, Howard failed a sobriety test when he was caughtspeeding and was charged withdriving while intoxicated.[150] The following month he pleaded not guilty and committed to enter an alcohol rehabilitation and education program.[151] After Lynam coached the Bullets to a 22–24 record, he was fired and the Bullets hiredBernie Bickerstaff, who posted a 22–13 record.[152] Over the course of the 1996–97 season, Howard accumulated 24 double-doubles in 82 games,[153] while averaging 19.1 points and 8.1 rebounds.[133] Although Howard averaged over 19 points per game and played all 82 games,[133] he only scored 30 or more points twice during the regular season.[153] The team finished its regular season with a 44–38 record but was swept in three games in theEastern Conference first round by theChicago Bulls, who went on to win their second consecutive NBA championship.[154] The1997 NBA Playoffs were Howard's only NBA playoff appearance in his six-plus seasons with the Washington franchise, and he averaged 18.7 points and 6 rebounds while playing 43 minutes per game.[133] The playoff appearance marked the franchise's first since the1988.[155]
TheWizards relocated from theUS Airways Arena to theMCI Center for the1997–98 season,[156] during which Howard totaled 11 double-doubles in 64 games,[157] while averaging 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds.[133] He scored between 20 and 29 points 31 times that season but failed to score 30 points in any game.[157] Howard injured his ankle and was unable to play between February 5 and March 17.[157][158] During Bickerstaff's only full season as the Washington coach, the team posted a 42–40 record.[159]
After the1998–99 NBA lockout, theWizards posted an 18–32 record in the shortened season. The team started out 13–19 under Bickerstaff and was 5–13 underJim Brovelli after Bickerstaff was fired.[160] Howard was a vocal critic of Bickerstaff throughout his tenure, stating the coach was unable to make proper in-game adjustments.[161] Howard, who again had an ankle injury,[162] missed the last 14 games of the season. Over the course of the1998–99 season, he posted 11 double-doubles and two 15-rebound performances in 36 games,[163] while averaging 18.9 points and 7.0 rebounds.[133]
During the1999–2000 season, Howard accumulated 10 double-doubles in 82 games,[164] while averaging 14.9 points and 8.1 rebounds.[133] TheWizards endured a 14–30 start under head coachGar Heard before going 15–23 under Heard's replacement,Darrell Walker.[165] According toSam Smith from theChicago Tribune, Howard had become unpopular and a bit of a disappointment by his sixth season in Washington.[166] He posted 30 points twice,[164] including a season-high 36 in a fourth-quarter comeback to end a five-game losing streak in January.[167] During the offseason, Howard's name surfaced in trade rumors that had him going to the New York Knicks in exchange for Ewing because the Wizards' management thought that the trade would better position the team for the 2001 free agent market.[168] Following the season, Walker was replaced byLeonard Hamilton, becoming the team's sixth head coach since last making theNBA playoffs four years earlier.[169]
Although it had been five years since his only All-Star appearance, Howard was the fourth-highest-paid player in the NBA during the2000–01 season, behindKevin Garnett,Shaquille O'Neal and Mourning.[170] Howard, along with Strickland and Richmond, were marquee names on the team under contract to earn at least $10 million.[169][171] On December 31, 2000, Howard, posted his career high of 15 made free throws in a game against theDetroit Pistons.[133]
Michael Jordan, who had become the Wizards' head of basketball operations the prior season, traded Howard,Obinna Ekezie, andCalvin Booth to theDallas Mavericks for Laettner,Loy Vaught,Etan Thomas,Hubert Davis,Courtney Alexander and $3 million on February 22, 2001, at the NBA trade deadline.[172][173] Jordan's move was praised for freeing up salary cap space in advance of the NBA's first season with a luxury tax.[174] The trade served the Mavericks by giving them a new offensive weapon and enabling them to match up defensively against theNBA Western Conference power forwards such as Wallace,Tim Duncan,Karl Malone and Webber.[174][175] Washington finished the year with a 19–63 record under coach Hamilton.[176]
During the 2000–01 season, the Mavericks finished 53–29 under coachDon Nelson.[177] Howard provided the Mavericks with a back-to-the-basket player who moved into the starting power-forward position, enablingDirk Nowitzki to play small forward andShawn Bradley to play center.[178] During the season, Howard tallied 16 double-doubles and five 30-point performances in 81 games,[179] while averaging 18.0 points and 7.1 rebounds.[133] On a team with All-StarMichael Finley and future MVPsSteve Nash and Nowitzki, Howard was the highest-paid player.[180] On March 20, Howard blocked five shots, his career high, against thePortland Trail Blazers.[133] In the2001 NBA Playoffs, the Mavericks advanced past theUtah Jazz 3 games to 2 before losing to theSan Antonio Spurs, 4 games to 1.[177] The Utah games marked the first time Howard played for a team that won an NBA playoff series.[103] In the first game of the series against the Spurs, Howard slammed Spurs guardDerek Anderson to the floor while trying to block Anderson's layup late in the game.[181] Anderson suffered a separated shoulder on the play, and Howard received a flagrant foul and was ejected.[181] After the game, Howard, Spurs coachGregg Popovich, and Mavs ownerMark Cuban all said the foul was committed without malice or intent to injure Anderson.[181] In the Mavericks' 10 playoff games, Howard totaled three double-doubles while averaging 13.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in 39.1 minutes.[103][179]
During the2001–02 season, he posted 17 double-doubles and three 30-point performances in 81 games (72 starts),[182] while averaging 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds.[103] This was the first time since his rookie holdout season that he did not start every game he played in.[103] All reserve appearances occurred between November 21 and December 11, and eight of them were in consecutive games between November 21 and December 5.[182] On January 31, he posted a career-high 16 rebounds against theHouston Rockets.[133]
The Mavericks traded Howard withDonnell Harvey, Hardaway and a 2002 first-round pick to theDenver Nuggets forRaef LaFrentz,Avery Johnson, Van Exel andTariq Abdul-Wahad on February 21, 2002.[103][183] At the time of the trade, Howard was considered the Mavericks' best low-post defender.[184] On March 25, 2002, he scored his 10,000th career point atMadison Square Garden against theNew York Knicks.[185] Howard started all 28 games that he played for the Nuggets.[182] Don Nelson's Mavericks went to the second round of the2002 NBA Playoffs after trading Howard,[186] while the Nuggets failed to make the playoffs under coachesDan Issel andMike Evans.[187] By the end of the season, Nuggets general manager Vandeweghe had cleared almost $20 million of salary cap space, leaving the team with few veterans and only Howard andMarcus Camby as well-known players. This made the team an undesirable coaching assignment for veteran coaches.[188] In the offseason, the Nuggets replaced Evans with the relatively unknownJeff Bzdelik.[188]
During a preseason game, Howard attempted to punchAl Harrington andJermaine O'Neal, which earned him a suspension on October 25, 2002. As a result, Howard missed theNuggets' first two games of the regular season, and this cost him $458,000 in salary.[189] Howard first attempted to hit Harrington late in the fourth quarter on a night when Howard had missed nine of ten shots. When O'Neal intervened, the two pushed and shoved each other before Howard started punching again.[190] At around the same time, the University of Michigan basketball scandal investigation came to an end with many of the accomplishments of the Fab Five being rescinded throughNational Collegiate Athletic Association sanctions.[191] Although many of the records of the Fab Five were erased, Howard's and teammate Rose's 1994 All-American recognitions were unaffected by the scandal.[63][192] During the2002–03 regular season, he accumulated 18 double-doubles, two 30-point performances, and three 15-rebound performances in 77 games,[193] while averaging 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.[103] The 2002–03 Nuggets were 17–65 under Bzdelik.[194] Howard started all 77 games in which he played.[193] The team struggled with three rookies in the starting lineup.
Howard signed what was believed to be a five-year, $28 million contract as a free agent with theOrlando Magic on July 16, 2003; he had been expected to sign with either Detroit orMinnesota.[103][195] During the season, teammateTracy McGrady successfully defended hisscoring championship,[196] while Howard attempted to be a positive influence when the situation arose, such as when he attempted to stop McGrady from kicking the basketball into the stands twice in a row.[197] McGrady missed the last 10 games of the season with knee problems (ending his season on March 24),[198] leading to Howard's best performances of the season: Howard had 33 points and 11 rebounds on April 2 against theAtlanta Hawks,[199] and he had 38 points on April 12 against theChicago Bulls.[200] Over the course of the2003–04 season, he had 16 double-doubles and two 30-point performances in 81 games (77 starts),[201] while averaging 17.2 points and 7.1 rebounds.[103] The team compiled a 21–61 record, the worst in the NBA, under coachesDoc Rivers andJohnny Davis.[202][203]
On June 29, 2004, Howard and Magic teammates McGrady,Tyronn Lue andReece Gaines were part of a seven-player trade that sent2003–04 Houston Rocketsstarting guardsSteve Francis andCuttino Mobley, plusKelvin Cato, to the Magic.[103][204] Howard became the regular starting power forward on December 2 and started for the rest of the season.[205]
The 2004–05 Rockets were 51–31 under Van Gundy and lost in the first round of the2005 NBA playoffs to theDallas Mavericks, four games to three.[206] Although the Rockets made the playoffs, Howard's season ended on March 14, when he left a game with a sprainedmedial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee.[205][207] Initially, the injury was supposed to sideline Howard for four weeks.[208] The injury coincided with a period in which he developed symptoms ofviral myocarditis, including heartpalpitations, mild chest pains and fever and was diagnosed with a viral infection in his heart. His limited physical activity impaired his MCL rehabilitation.[209] Over the course of the2004–05 season, Howard achieved seven double-doubles in 61 games (47 starts),[205] while averaging 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds.[103]
During the2005–06 season, Howard recorded 10 double-doubles and two 30-point performances in 80 games (all as a starter),[210] while averaging 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds.[103] He played 31.7 minutes per game, and this was the last season in which he averaged 30 minutes per game; this was also the final season in which Howard started at least half of the games in which he played.[103] TheRockets were 34–48 under Van Gundy and missed the playoffs.[211] Howard was suspended one game without pay in January for shoving the basketball into the face of Toronto guardMike James in an exchange that occurred after Howard fouled James on a drive to the basket.[212] Howard posted a season-high 31 points on April 17, 2006, against theDenver Nuggets.[213]
In the2006–07 season, Howard achieved nine double-doubles in 80 games played (37 starts),[214] while averaging 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.[215] His 26.5 minutes per game marked a new career low.[103] Howard only started 38 games,[215] including 32 consecutive starts between December 26, 2006, and March 3, 2007.[214]The 2006–07 Rockets were 52–30 under Van Gundy for the regular season.[216] The Rockets entered the2007 NBA Playoffs with little experience; Howard was one of only three players on the team (along withRafer Alston andDikembe Mutombo) to have previously won any NBA playoff series.[217] Once the playoffs began, Howard served as a key reserve on the Rockets' short bench rotation that also includedLuther Head and Mutombo.[218] The Rockets managed to split the first 4 games even though Head and Howard only combined to average 7.6 points,[219][220] including a combined pointless 0-for-10 game three.[221] Although Howard had a productive game five with 12 points and 6 rebounds which contributed to a Rockets victory,[222] the team lost in the first round of the 2007 playoffs to theUtah Jazz, four games to three.[216] In the playoffs, reserve Howard averaged 5.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 22.4 minutes.[103][214]
On June 14, 2007, Howard was traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves forMike James andJustin Reed.[223] According to ESPN, he regretted not choosing Minnesota the last time he had been a free agent and was looking forward to playing with Garnett.[224] Soon after Howard signed with Minnesota, the team traded Garnett to theBoston Celtics.[225] Howard made it clear he was not interested in being on a team in Minnesota that was focused on developing young talent and consequently requested a trade once Garnett was no longer a member of the team.[224][226] Howard still had $6.88 million and $7.38 million in salary owed to him over the next two seasons, which made him difficult to trade.[224] Timberwolves ownerGlen Taylor noted that the team would attempt to accommodate his wishes but acknowledged that doing so would be difficult.[227] On October 29, 2007, the Timberwolveswaived Howard after agreeing to a contractual buyout agreement[228] worth $10 million spread over four years instead of the roughly $14.25 million ($6.88 million plus $7.38 million) that Minnesota would otherwise have owed him.[229]
Howard agreed to terms with theDallas Mavericks on October 30, 2007, but was not able to officially sign until the next day, when he cleared waivers.[230][231] Terms of the deal were not disclosed publicly. During the2007–08 season, he played in 50 games and made no starts,[232] while averaging 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds.[103] In his limited role he never played more than 18 minutes and had season-highs of seven rebounds and six points.[232] The 2007–08 Mavericks were 51–31 under coach Johnson and lost in the first round of the2008 NBA Playoffs to theNew Orleans Hornets four games to one.[233] In the playoffs, Howard only appeared for a total of 11 minutes in three games.[103] This was the first season in Howard's career in which he did not start in a single game.[103]
On October 3, 2008,[103] Howard rejoined theDenver Nuggets, but was later released when the Nuggets made a three-for-one trade ofAllen Iverson forChauncey Billups,Antonio McDyess andCheikh Samb on November 3 that put them over the 15-man roster size limit.[234] Before the trade, Howard had played in three games during the2008–09 season.
On December 12, 2008, he was signed by theCharlotte Bobcats.[235] During the 2008–09 season, he played in 42 games, making two starts;[236] Howard averaged 4.1 points and 1.8 rebounds.[103] In his reserve role, he played more than 20 minutes five times, including four straight appearances from January 28 to February 8, and had season-highs of five rebounds and 14 points. He posted 10 or more points five times.[236] Howard played extended minutes on January 28, the night afterGerald Wallace suffered a left-lung collapse and a non-displaced fracture of the fifth rib from aflagrant foul byAndrew Bynum; in 24 minutes of action, he scored 9 points.[237][238][239] During Howard's streak of 20-minute appearances,[236] he sat out one intervening game on February 6 with a toe injury.[240] On February 8, in only his second start as a Bobcat, he played a season-high 30 minutes, 39 seconds and posted a season-high 14 points.[236] The subsequent night, Howard was out of the lineup again with a toe injury.[241] The 2008–09 Bobcats were 35–47 under coachLarry Brown.[242]
On September 17, 2009, Howard signed a one-year contract with thePortland Trail Blazers.[243][244] On December 22, centerJoel Przybilla injured his knee in the first quarter, allowing Howard to play additional minutes,[245] which allowed Howard his first double-double since April 6, 2007.[245] He had his other double-double of the 2009–10 season the next night when he made his first start of the season.[232] All of Howard's performances with 10 rebounds or more occurred between December 22 and February 3. December 23 marked the start of 14 consecutive starting appearances and 24 starts in 26 appearances (ending on February 16) for him.[246] Having lost Przybilla andGreg Oden for the season, Portland acquired Camby from theLos Angeles Clippers forSteve Blake andTravis Outlaw on February 17 prior to the trade deadline.[247] During the2009–10 season, he accumulated two double-doubles, played in 73 games, and made 27 starts,[246] while averaging 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds.[133] The 2009–10 Trail Blazers were 50–32 under coachNate McMillan and lost in the first round of the2010 NBA Playoffs to thePhoenix Suns, four games to two.[248] Howard appeared in all six games, averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14.5 minutes.[103] He played the most minutes (17:51) in game 4,[246] when he added 8 points and 7 rebounds to help even the series.[249]
On July 20, 2010, Howard came to terms for the2010–11 NBA season with theMiami Heat on a one-year contract for the veteran's minimum salary, which was $1,352,181.[103][250][251] Although he was only paid the minimum by the Heat, he was in the final year of his four-year buyout from the Timberwolves.[229] By joining the Heat, Howard joined a team that by the time of the2011 NBA playoffs, included former championDwyane Wade as well as a group of players such asLeBron James andChris Bosh.[252] In March, he was featured in the documentary filmThe Fab Five, which was about his time as a Wolverine, that reignited controversy and reinvigorated theDuke–Michigan basketball rivalry.[253] For the season, Howard played 57 games for the2010–11 Heat, all as a reserve. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds with season highs of 18 points and 7 rebounds.[254] The Heat reached the NBA Finals, losing to the Dallas Mavericks four games to two.[255][256] Howard averaged 1.5 points and .9 rebounds per game during the postseason.[103]
On December 10, 2011, Howard re-signed with the Heat for the same veteran's minimum salary as the year before.[257][258] Howard appeared in 28 regular season games as a reserve with limited minutes.[259] At age 39, Howard was the third-oldest active player in the league during the2011–12 NBA season, behindKurt Thomas andGrant Hill.[260] On June 21, 2012, Howard became the first and only member of the Fab Five to win an NBA championship, as a role player on the2011–12 Miami Heat.[261] Following the season, Howard became an unrestricted free agent.[262] At the 20th annualESPY Awards, Howard and Heat teammateMike Miller took to the stage to accept the award for Team of the Year.[263]
On March 2, 2013, Howard signed a 10-day contract with the2012–13 Miami Heat.[264][265] On March 12, 2013, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Heat,[266] and on March 22, 2013, he was signed for the remainder of the season.[267] He made his first appearance of the season for the Heat on March 24 against theCharlotte Bobcats tallying two points, a rebound and two assists in three minutes of play as the Heat made their way to their 26th consecutive victory.[268][269] On April 15, he made his first start since April 14, 2010, as the Heat defeated theCleveland Cavaliers without James, Wade, Bosh, Battier, Chalmers andUdonis Haslem in the penultimate game of the regular season.[270] Howard's April 17 start in the season finale against theOrlando Magic marked Howard's 900th career start.[271] With the retirement ofGrant Hill on June 1, 2013, Howard became the oldest active player in the NBA at age 40.[272] During the playoffs, Howard did not play.[273][274]
In college, Howard was regarded as one of the best defensive big men in the country.[65] According to Mariotti, he was also regarded as a "rock-solid" power forward who provided rebounds and defense, in contrast to his flamboyant teammate Webber.[275] Fisher referred to Howard as his "Rock of Gibraltar".[97] His consistency was described byChicago Tribune journalist Skip Myslenski as Michigan's "ballast, steadying them on those many occasions when they wavered. And their savior, rescuing them from their many follies".[97]
After the 1994 draft, NBA analystDoug Collins described Howard as a player who could "play with his back to the basket" and "shoot from about 16 feet outside" and who played "with a lot of energy and emotion".[21] The Bullets'general manager,John Nash, who was disappointed thatJason Kidd was no longer available at the fifth pick of the draft,[7] told Jerry Bembry ofThe Baltimore Sun that Howard was "as fundamentally sound as any player in the draft" and that he "[had] a discipline about his game and [used] a high level of skill and technique". Bembry said, "Not only can Howard post up, he passes effectively and is able to hit a jumper up to 17 feet", adding that he also was "an excellent position defender".[276] Later Bembry noted that he was a power forward who was able to play center, adding that at Michigan he was "most effective playing with his back to the basket" but could also pass effectively and hit medium-rangejumpers.[277] The Bullets' head coach,Jim Lynam, described Howard as a "complete player" and noted, "[H]e can defend you and he can score over you".[278] Nash said that "the things that impressed me most about him were his character, his intelligence and his insight. He's a leader type."[279]
When he first became afree agent in 1996, Howard was described as versatile enough to play all three front-line positions (small forward, power forward and center), andMichael Jordan praised his "game, work ethic and character".[280] As a Dallas player in 2000–01, he was still regarded as a versatile offensive player who could "take advantage of smaller defenders in the paint and then stretch his bigger defenders outside" in addition to being a solid rebounder.[178] By 2001, Lacy J. Banks from theChicago Sun-Times regarded him as a high-priced, under-achieving player,[281] but in 2002, Banks described him as a solid veteran at the four (power forward position).[282] In the NBA, Howard developed a respected inside post-up game and a reputation as a veteran leader, according toKiki Vandeweghe, the general manager of theDenver Nuggets, Howard's team in 2003.[283]
When he signed with the Heat in 2010, Howard was lauded for his ability to play the power forward and center positions and for his professionalism.[284] Howard also added frontcourt toughness.[285] As an elder statesman with the Heat, he was regarded as a future NBA coach or general manager.[286]
On September 28, 2013, the Heat announced a reshuffling of their organization. The reshuffling included the announcement that Howard would remain with the Heat, moving officially into an assistant coaching role. The assistant coaching position was available after bothChad Kammerer andKeith Askins were moved from coaching to scouting positions.[287] This effectively indicated Howard's retirement as a basketball player, as league regulations prohibit one from holding a coaching position while being an active player.[288] Howard spent six seasons with the Heat as an assistant coach.[289] In his first year, the Heat reached the 2014 NBA Finals in the final year of the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh trio, where they lost to the Spurs in 5 games. The Heat went on to make two more playoff appearances in Howard's remaining time as an assistant coach in Miami.
Howard coached a number of All-Stars while with the Heat, including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.[290]
On May 22, 2019, Howard was named the head coach of theMichigan Wolverines men's basketball team, signing a five-year contract.[291][292] In2021, after guiding the Wolverines to a 14–3 Big Ten record and their first Big Ten regular season title in seven years, Howard was named theBig Ten Conference Coach of the Year,Sporting News Coach of the Year, andAssociated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year, and awarded theHenry Iba Award by theUSBWA.[293][294][295][296][297] Michigan was named a No. 1 seed in the2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, making Howard the first person in NCAA history to enter the tournament as a No. 1 seed as both a player and a coach.[298] On November 16, 2021, Michigan signed Howard to a five-year contract extension through the 2025–26 season.[299]
On February 20, 2022, an altercation involving Howard took place following a game betweenMichigan and theWisconsin Badgers at theKohl Center where Howard hit Wisconsin's assistant coach in the face. The following day, Howard was suspended for the remainder of Michigan's regular season and fined $40,000 for being in "clear violation of the Big Ten Conference's Sportsmanship Policy".[300] Howard was allowed to return for the Big Ten Tournament and later theNCAA tournament, where the Wolverines reached the Sweet Sixteen.[301] On March 15, 2024, following an 8–24season and two successive seasons without a tournament appearance, Michigan announced they were parting ways with Howard after five years of coaching. During Howard’s tenure, no Big Ten teams had more NCAA tournament wins than Michigan.[302]
After serving 5 years as the coach ofMichigan, Howard joined theBrooklyn Nets as an assistant coach forJordi Fernández on April 26, 2024.[303]
Howard has six children. One of Howard's children, son Juwan Howard Jr. (born February 5, 1992),[304] is the child of Markita Blyden, who was runner-up for Michigan's Miss Basketball when she and her twin sister led Detroit'sMurray–Wright High School to the 1990 Class A state championship game. Howard Jr. finished his senior season at Detroit'sPershing High School in spring 2010.[305] As a junior, he led his high school to theMichigan High School Athletic Association state championship. As a senior, he was named first team All-State by the Associated Press andDetroit Free Press.[304] He played his freshman season for the2010–11 Western Michigan Broncos before he transferred to theUniversity of Detroit MercyTitans.[306] As aredshirt sophomore for the2012–13 Detroit Titans, he became a regular starter and solid contributor.[307][308]
On July 6, 2002, Howard married Jenine Wardally. They have two sons: Jace, who was born in late September 2001,[309][310] andJett, who is two years younger.[311] Jace formerly played under his father at the University of Michigan.[312] Jett played alongside his brother at Michigan until being drafted to the Orlando Magic at pick #11 in 2023.[313]
Howard is cousins with Angela Jackson, mother of NBA athletesJalen McDaniels andJaden McDaniels, making him first cousins once removed with them and his children second cousins with them.[314]
As a student athlete at the University of Michigan, Howard volunteered to visit patients at theUniversity of Michigan Health System Hospitals in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[315] He continued to engage in charity work and hospital visits throughout his career,[107] including a Stay in School Jam for 6,500 local area students that he participated in along with several teammates and R&B artistUsher.[316]
Howard was recognized in 2001 as one of the "Good Guys in Sports" byThe Sporting News for his civic contributions.[317][318] In 2010, Howard won the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his community efforts, philanthropic work and charitable contributions.[319] He runs a yearly free basketball camp for youth, which is made possible by a partnership between the Juwan Howard Foundation and theChicago Public Schools (CPS), Jordan Brand,Dell Computers,EMI Music,Vitamin Water and the NBA.[320] His foundation partners with the CPS for a reading challenge; the top 300 readers, out of 30,000 annually, attend his camp.[319] During and after his time as a member of the Heat, Howard was active in South Florida community outreach, fundraising and humanitarian efforts.[321][322][323]
Howard appeared in the 1994 basketball filmHoop Dreams.[324] He had a small role in the television dramaThe West Wing, appearing in a 1999 episode as a formerDuke basketball player who served onJosiah Bartlet'sCouncil on Physical Fitness and helped him win a game against his staff.[325]
Other appearances include the August 15, 1999 "The Art of Give and Take" episode ofArli$$, the season 5 (2005) "Michigan's Fab 5" episode ofBeyond the Glory, the November 9, 1996, season 2 "Son-in-Law" episode ofHang Time and the 2011 documentaryThe Fab Five, produced by his Michigan teammate Jalen Rose.[326][327] After his 18th season in the NBA, Howard worked withRick Ross to produce arap song entitled "It's Time to Ball" from an album Howard was working on, entitledFull Court Press Volume 1.[328]
Howard most recently made a brief TV appearance in the pickup basketball game scene in episode 8 ofThe Last Dance, a documentary about the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls' championship season.[329]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won anNBA championship | * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Washington | 65 | 52 | 36.1 | .489 | .000 | .664 | 8.4 | 2.5 | .8 | .2 | 17.0 |
| 1995–96 | Washington | 81 | 81 | 40.7 | .489 | .308 | .749 | 8.1 | 4.4 | .8 | .5 | 22.1 |
| 1996–97 | Washington | 82 | 82* | 40.5 | .486 | .000 | .756 | 8.0 | 3.8 | 1.1 | .3 | 19.1 |
| 1997–98 | Washington | 64 | 64 | 40.0 | .467 | .000 | .721 | 7.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .4 | 18.5 |
| 1998–99 | Washington | 36 | 36 | 39.7 | .474 | .000 | .753 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 1.2 | .4 | 18.9 |
| 1999–00 | Washington | 82 | 82* | 35.5 | .459 | .000 | .735 | 5.7 | 3.0 | .8 | .3 | 14.9 |
| 2000–01 | Washington | 54 | 54 | 36.7 | .474 | .000 | .770 | 7.0 | 2.9 | .9 | .4 | 18.2 |
| 2000–01 | Dallas | 27 | 27 | 36.8 | .488 | .000 | .780 | 7.1 | 2.6 | 1.1 | .6 | 17.8 |
| 2001–02 | Dallas | 53 | 44 | 31.3 | .462 | .000 | .754 | 7.4 | 1.8 | .5 | .6 | 12.9 |
| 2001–02 | Denver | 28 | 28 | 34.9 | .457 | .000 | .770 | 7.9 | 2.7 | .6 | .6 | 17.9 |
| 2002–03 | Denver | 77 | 77 | 35.5 | .450 | .500 | .803 | 7.6 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .4 | 18.4 |
| 2003–04 | Orlando | 81 | 77 | 35.5 | .453 | .000 | .809 | 7.0 | 2.0 | .7 | .3 | 17.0 |
| 2004–05 | Houston | 61 | 47 | 26.6 | .451 | .000 | .843 | 5.7 | 1.5 | .5 | .1 | 9.6 |
| 2005–06 | Houston | 80 | 80 | 31.7 | .459 | .000 | .806 | 6.7 | 1.4 | .6 | .1 | 11.8 |
| 2006–07 | Houston | 80 | 38 | 26.5 | .465 | .000 | .824 | 5.9 | 1.6 | .4 | .1 | 9.7 |
| 2007–08 | Dallas | 50 | 0 | 7.1 | .359 | .000 | .786 | 1.6 | .3 | .1 | .0 | 1.1 |
| 2008–09 | Denver | 3 | 0 | 7.3 | .500 | .000 | .000 | 1.3 | .7 | .3 | .3 | .7 |
| 2008–09 | Charlotte | 39 | 2 | 11.5 | .510 | .000 | .676 | 1.8 | .6 | .2 | .1 | 4.4 |
| 2009–10 | Portland | 73 | 27 | 22.4 | .509 | .000 | .786 | 4.6 | .8 | .4 | .1 | 6.0 |
| 2010–11 | Miami | 57 | 0 | 10.4 | .440 | .000 | .829 | 2.1 | .4 | .2 | .1 | 2.4 |
| 2011–12† | Miami | 28 | 0 | 6.8 | .309 | .000 | .800 | 1.6 | .4 | .1 | .0 | 1.5 |
| 2012–13† | Miami | 7 | 2 | 7.3 | .526 | .000 | 1.000 | 1.1 | .9 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Career | 1208 | 900 | 30.3 | .469 | .120 | .764 | 6.1 | 2.2 | .7 | .3 | 13.4 | |
| All-Star | 1 | 0 | 16.0 | .200 | .000 | .000 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 2.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Washington | 3 | 3 | 43.0 | .465 | .000 | .889 | 6.0 | 1.7 | .7 | .7 | 18.7 |
| 2001 | Dallas | 10 | 10 | 39.1 | .360 | .000 | .800 | 8.3 | 1.4 | .6 | .5 | 13.4 |
| 2007 | Houston | 7 | 0 | 22.4 | .400 | .000 | .636 | 4.4 | 1.0 | .7 | .0 | 5.0 |
| 2008 | Dallas | 3 | 0 | 3.7 | .000 | .000 | .250 | .0 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .3 |
| 2010 | Portland | 6 | 0 | 14.5 | .526 | .000 | .000 | 2.7 | .7 | .2 | .2 | 3.3 |
| 2011 | Miami | 11 | 0 | 5.5 | .444 | .000 | .692 | .9 | .1 | .0 | .0 | 1.5 |
| 2012† | Miami | 9 | 0 | 2.7 | .286 | .000 | .750 | .1 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .8 |
| Career | 49 | 13 | 17.5 | .394 | .000 | .758 | 3.2 | .7 | .3 | .2 | 5.5 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | Michigan | 34 | 31 | 28.1 | .450 | .000 | .688 | 6.2 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 11.1 |
| 1992–93 | Michigan | 36 | 36 | 31.5 | .506 | .000 | .700 | 7.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 14.6 |
| 1993–94 | Michigan | 30 | 30 | 34.9 | .556 | .143 | .675 | 9.0 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 20.8 |
| Career | 100 | 97 | 31.4 | .510 | .091 | .688 | 7.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 15.3 | |
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Wolverines(Big Ten Conference)(2019–2024) | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | Michigan | 19–12 | 10–10 | 9th | Postseason cancelled due toCOVID-19 | ||||
| 2020–21 | Michigan | 23–5 | 14–3 | 1st | NCAA Division I Elite Eight | ||||
| 2021–22 | Michigan | 19–15[a] | 11–9[a] | T–7th | NCAA Division I Sweet 16 | ||||
| 2022–23 | Michigan | 18–16 | 11–9 | T–5th | NIT Second Round | ||||
| 2023–24 | Michigan | 8–24 | 3–17 | 14th | |||||
| Michigan: | 87–72 (.547) | 49–48 (.505) | |||||||
| Total: | 87–72 (.547) | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion | |||||||||
Howard, a 6–8 1/2 junior who is rated among the top 10 underclass prospects in the nation ...'I was issued a pair of shoes at the beginning of camp. But they tore. I was issued another pair. Then a counselor gave me another pair. I thought it was a joke. But somebody saw me walk out with a shoebox and thought I had stolen some shoes.'
... Top 20 all-star game at the B/C camp in Rensselaer, Ind ... Juwan Howard, Vocational's 6–8 1/2 junior, showed he is a rising star, establishing himself among the top 10 underclassmen in the nation. In the all-star game, he had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
It's too early to make a formal commitment but Vocational's 6–9 Juwan Howard, rated the best junior basketball prospect in the state, is expected to commit to Illinois. Why? Because Illini freshman Deon Thomas is Howard 's idol. They played against each other in high school. Howard still is considering DePaul, however.
Gibbons, based in Lenoir, N.C., flew from Charlotte, N.C., to Philadelphia to Washington to Louisville, Ky., to Long Beach, California, to Houston to Chicago to Memphis, Tenn., to Las Vegas, Nev., to Lubbock, Texas, to Dallas to Memphis to Charlotte and determined there are three major candidates going into the 1990–91 season. And each of them is a 6–9 center-forward
Thursday, 6-foot-4-inch guard Jimmy King of Plano, Texas, announced he would sign a letter-of-intent with Michigan during the Nov. 14–21 early-signing period. King is regarded as one of the top 20 prospects in the nation. A major reason he chose Michigan is the 6–9 Howard, who had orally committed to the school a week earlier.
Fisher was desperate to land a player of Howard 's caliber after losing Eric Montross to North Carolina last year and apparently losing 6–9 Chris Webber of Birmingham, Mich., the nation's No. 2 prospect this year, to Michigan State.
... Juwan Howard, the steady, bullish center from Chicago who did such a terrific defensive job on Jamal Mashburn ...
Mashburn scored 26 points, but had only nine after halftime and went the last 12:36 of regulation without a field goal.
From the beginning, it was clear that the referees were going to call this heavyweight brawl closely. Too closely, Michigan might have thought. By halftime, Wolverines Chris Webber, Juwan Howard and Jimmy King each had two fouls, and Ray Jackson had three ... The game shifted when Howard and Webber drew their second fouls in a 64-second span midway through the first half. Howard's second came with 9 minutes 42 seconds until the break; Webber's with 8:38 left. After Webber's foul, Fisher replaced Howard with 7-footer Eric Riley. But Fisher couldn't afford to have both big men on the bench, so Webber had to begin playing cautiously.
If Howard is considered a rock-solid, rebounds-and-defense power forward, Webber is the total showtime package, the transcendent franchise player.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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