It’s a return engagement for Howard
how he fits into his new team — he prefers to talk about his “purpose.”
It’s a small delineation that reflects a larger mentality shift for the big man as he looks to stay fresh in his 16th year in the NBA. Even though his physicality has changed over the years, Magic coach Steve Clifford said Howard is still one of the most intuitive players in the league.
Clifford was an assistant coach for the Lakers during Howard’s first stint with the team, then head coach of the Hornets for the forward’s season in Charlotte. In that time, Clifford said he gained a new level of respect for Howard’s dedication.
Clifford admitted age has captured some of the spring and agility that earned Howard the
“Superman” moniker in his prime years with the Magic. But the coach said Howard’s attitude toward the game has made his resurgence this season special to watch, even from afar.
“If you hadn’t been around him, people have no idea how much work he’s put in just to be able to go out there,” Clifford said. “He appreciates the NBA and it’s important to him to be able to keep playing. I just appreciate how much he had to do just to play every night.”
Part of Howard’s resurgence this year comes from his improved health. After undergoing spinal surgery in 2018, Howard dropped at least 25 pounds ahead of the 2019 season, cutting his diet to one meal a day while maintaining his training regimen.
That physical transformation has been key to his improved health and mobility on the court. But Howard said his focus on his mental and emotional health has made a deeper impact on and off the court.
“The weight loss is part of it, but I think more so it’s the spiritual and the mental aspect,” Howard said. “Mental health is very important. If we want to get our minds right, we’ve got to get our spirits right. I’m very high-spirited right now.”
After shoot-around, Howard wore a hoodie emblazoned with those same words — “I’m back” — and a cartoon of himself in his Lakers uniform next to the Hollywood sign with the letters replaced to spell out “Redemption.”
It’s been 18 months since Howard last played at Amway Center. In the past, his return to the arena has been a tense affair, typically accompanied by boos and catcalls.
The trend continued Wednesday night when Howard was met with a chorus of boos. One fan yelled, “You broke our hearts, Dwight.”
But Howard also heard some cheers and smiled at fans. He said he looks forward to games in Orlando as a chance to reconnect with the Magic fans who supported him during the start of his career.
“A lot of these fans basically grew up with me,” Howard said. “It’s always good to come home.”