I can’t say that Dwight Howard is an NBA legend or maybe he is, but in a different and bizarre way than what we are used to.

This Atlanta native has a long history in the NBA, playing for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers.

In his early years in the league he was known as a religious fanatic, a young virgin in every sense of the word. His teammates, Steve Francis and Tony Battie, took him out once and said they would not do it again, not because Howard was trying to evangelize or exorcize them at every moment, it was because the young man was too innocent and they didn’t want to feel responsible for corrupting it.

In 2004 he arrived in the NBA as the number one pick in the draft and with a mission entrusted by the pastor of his church who told him:. “Your purpose will be to make basketball something to the greater glory of God.” I think that was too much for Howard and would mark the beginning of his diva complex.

Rise to glory

Howard became one of the best players in the NBA. Kevin Garnet came to describe it as “a freak of nature.”

During his tenure with the Magic he won three division titles and one conference title, with the Lakers a championship ring and helped the US team win the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

With such success, the player became vain, despotic and finally corrupted, he allowed himself to be swallowed up by the pleasures of life, especially women.

Descent into hell

Howard forgot about his divine mission and turned to the dark side. His ego and diva complex led him to have internal problems with teammates and coaches.

For example, in the Magic it was widely known how little respect Howard had for Van Gundy, whom he even mocked during games. He pressured the franchise board to fired him and this reached the ears of Van Gundy. As a result, the team disbanded and Howard would also leave Orlando.

His agents got him a contract with the Lakers, and gave him the following warning “Don’t lose control of your ego, you’re not a movie star and the best thing you can do is play yourself.” Howard responded by firing them.

His transfer to the Lakers would be the beginning of the end. He couldn’t get along with Kobe who once said “I don’t want to see him again” claiming that the player was soft and didn’t take things seriously, especially when they lost.

He only spent one year in Los Angeles and moved to the Rockets where he was just another player, a shadow of what he once was. Here he blamed Harden for marginalizing him.

Exile

At the age of 31, Howard left the Rockets and went from team to team, he became an undesirable person who you only invite to the neighborhood pickup game because he owns the ball or has the latest video games at home and you want to get along with him, but you really hate it.

He left the NBA to become a farmer, but this would not last long as he received an offer from Taiwan that he could not refuse. The Taoyuan Leopards made a salary exception and offered him a million dollars. Actually it may seem little but a million is a million, I wouldn’t say no.

In addition, Howard is well worth the investment, since he is averaging 25.6 points, 14.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 blocks in ten games. He’s even started shooting fron the three point line, he’s not very good but at least he tries. He actually participated in the three point contest of the T1 league. He did a terrible job scoring 15 points and consuming all the available time without actually shooting all the balls.

Adventure in South America

It seems that Howard’s career is far from coming to an end, since the Venezuelan team Guaros de Lara of the Professional Basketball Super League (SPB), would be in negotiations with the player to incorporate him into the roster.

This team is known for making big moves for well-known players although not all of them come to fruition. Nate Robinson, Smush Parker, Damien Wilkins and Allen Iverson are some of the names this team has dealt with in the past.

The team is one of the most successful in the South American country, having won the Intercontinental Cup, the South American Club League and the Liga de las Américas.

If I were Howard and I had to choose between playing in Taiwan or Venezuela, I’d stick with my farm in Georgia, but we’ll see what decision he makes.