Dwight Howard will participate in 2020 SlamDunk Contest

It wasn’t that long ago when Dwight Howard was one of the best big men in the NBA. During his time in Orlando, Howard earned six of his eight straight All-Star selections. However, Howard forced his way out of Orlando following the 2011-12 season. Unfortunately, his one-year stint with the Los Angles Lakers didn’t pan out as planned. That year, the Lakers were eliminated in the conference semifinals. Dwight Howard has played with multiple teams since then, including the Houston Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks. Sadly, his career hasn’t been the same.

Having said that, when the Lakers decided to take a chance on Dwight Howard in the offseason, the expectations were low, and rightfully so. Sure, his averages of 7.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest don’t jump off the page. Furthermore, these are career lows for the Los Angeles Lakers’ big man. Surprisingly, Dwight Howard has proven to be just what the Lakers needed, as they currently sit atop the Western Conference.

Possibly due to feeling good about the way he has been playing this season, Dwight Howard was the first confirmed participant of the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest in this year’s NBA All-Star weekend. If you think the center may be out of his element in this event, then think again. You see, Howard was a participant in this event for three straight seasons from 2007 through 2009. And he won in 2008 with this memorable dunk.

Sure, Dwight Howard is no longer in the prime of his career. As this season has proven, though, he still has a lot left in the tank. Simply put, look for Howard to make the evening a memorable one just as he did over a decade ago. And maybe, just maybe, he will do enough to emerge as the winner once more.