Juwan’s son keeps chasing NBA dream
LAS VEGAS — Juwan Howard Jr. hasn’t taken the same Fab Five route through Michigan to the NBA that his father traveled.
The elder Howard never played in the leagues of Luxembourg or Mexico or Finland, nor did he get cut by an NBA summer-league team before the opener.
The son, Howard Jr., a 6-foot-6 small forward out of Detroit Mercy, has done all that. His NBA journey at age 26 has landed him with the Knicks’ summer-league team, where new coach David Fizdale kept his dream alive.
Howard Jr. played during two summer leagues with the Heat, for which his father is an assistant coach and with which he won two titles as a power forward.
Howard Jr. emailed Fizdale in the spring from Luxembourg after his father hadn’t said boo to him about rejoining the Heat’s summer team for a third whirl. The elder Howard coached his son in one of those summers and called it “a dream come true.’’
But this time, Howard Jr. got the hint.
“I needed to take my career upon myself and I think he’s happy I took the initiative,’’ Howard Jr. told The Post at the Knicks’ hotel. “I just emailed him my bio and stats, what I did this year and he responded, ‘Let me talk to my people.’ ”
The invitation came soon after, and as a result, all 30 NBA teams will get another look at Howard Jr., who hasn’t given up the fight. One of his hopes is an invite to the GLeague Westchester Knicks.
“Basketball is all I know. My mom, dad played, I don’t know without it,’’ Howard Jr. said. “I can’t say I loved it because of my dad. When I first touched a ball, it was poetry in motion.”
And so he continued this longshot bid to make the NBA as the Knicks opened summer-league play Saturday versus the Hawks. A year ago, in Howard Jr.’s lowest moment, the Bulls cut him from their summer-league team before the opener.
Howard Jr. was on hand to celebrate both championships his father won with Miami under the same roof as Fizdale, then a Heat assistant.
“I can’t see myself doing nothing else but being in this game,’’ Howard Jr. said. “If things don’t work out here [in the NBA], I’ll go to Europe, continue to grow in that way as a player. If I have to be 32, being in the NBA, as long as I’m getting better every year, adding to my game. I feel that ‘s what I’m doing. If I don’t make it, so be it. But at least I can say I took the necessary steps.”
Howard Jr. is oldest of six brothers. He also has three sisters from his mother’s side. One brother, Joshua, plays for Brown University. His mother, Markita, was a 5-7 Detroit high school sensation, then got pregnant with Juwan Jr. while starring at Mississippi State.
He credits his mother for his “competitive edge’’ and father for his “professionalism.’’ Howard Jr. lived with his mother in Detroit while his All-Star father made the NBA rounds in Dallas, Denver, Houston and Portland.
“It’s ups and downs being an NBA son,’’ Howard Jr. said. “Just ask little Tim [Hardaway Jr.]. There’s pros and cons. But when you’re in your father’s profession, it gives you a blueprint, a cheat sheet. You got your own hero. But if you grow up separated and he’s not around a lot, you deal with a lot as an NBA son.’’
Right now Howard Jr. is leaning on Fizdale, who wanted to bring the elder Howard in as an assistant coach. The Heat, however, wouldn’t let him out of his contract.
“I find [Fizdale] as closest to an angel as I can think of,’’ Howard Jr. said. “He’s real and you don’t find that in this league. Fizdale is just known for having this beautiful mind. Straightforward and narrow, no hidden agendas. He’s going to be a great head coach in this league eventually.’’
If Fizdale can boost Howard Jr.’s career, it will be another notch in his belt. Fizdale invited him because he thought he would be a good influence on the Knicks’ raft of young prospects.
”Fantastic kid,’’ Fizdale said. “He’s a high IQ player — multiskilled. He’s been great for me here because I can plug him in all kind of places — play this position. He knows all the plays. He’s a real pro, doesn’t have an ego or try to live up to his dad. He’s the kind of character kid we want around here.’’