Lakers News: Dwight Howard to Compete in Dunk Contest This Season

By Jonathan Sherman
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Updated: January 6, 2020

Brett Davis / USA TODAY Sports

The resurgence of Dwight Howard with the Los Angeles Lakers has been a sight to behold this season.

On Monday, another incredible development was added to his comeback story when it was reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic that Howard plans to compete in the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend.

“Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard will participate in the Dunk Contest in Chicago at All-Star weekend, league sources told The Athletic,” Charania wrote. “The NBA has received the commitment of the three-time participant (2007-09), one-time Slam Dunk champion and a potential Hall of Famer to revitalize the energy in this year’s competition.”

As Charania wrote, the contest is nothing new for Howard. He starred in it three times during the prime of his career and won the contest in 2008.

While the Lakers seem to be supportive of his desire to compete, they want to make sure that he is taking the necessary health precautions as well.

“The Lakers plan to take great cautiousness and care of Howard while he participates in the event in Chicago, understanding his critical role on a championship favorite come the postseason, sources said,” Charania wrote. “Howard turned 34 on Dec. 8. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time All-NBA team member.”

Prior to this season, many believed that Howard’s time in the NBA had come to an end. That all changed when an injury to DeMarcus Cousins forced to Lakers to look for help in the frontcourt.

Howard was offered a non-guaranteed contract by the Lakers. This season, Howard is averaging 7.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

While those numbers pale in comparison to those of his prime years, he has served as a nightly injection of toughness and energy for a surging Lakers squad.

At 34 years old, he will likely be the oldest competitor in the contest by a wide margin. As he has proven on a near nightly basis this season, however, he still has the bounce of a much younger man.

Bringing the trophy home at this stage in his career would certainly be an impressive feat.