Dwight David Howard (born December 8, 1985, in Atlanta, Georgia howard_bio.html" target="_blank">Dwight Howard, usabasketball.com, accessed 24 February 2008. ) is an _American basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Howard, who usually plays center but can also play power forward, had an outstanding high school career. He chose to forgo college and entered the 2004 NBA Draft. He was selected first overall by the Magic, and has since emerged as one of the top rebounders and players in the NBA and been selected to the All-Star game twice. Howard's overall play and his spectacular dunks have gained him prominence as one of the brightest young prospects in the NBA and the team leader of the Magic. The winner of the NBA 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, he is also a devout Christian who contributes substantially to philanthropic causes.
