From mastering the Viennese Waltz to honoring the basketball brotherhood, Dwight Howard proves that some bonds transcend the hardwood. While the former NBA star has been dazzling audiences alongside professional dancer Daniella Karagach on “Dancing with the Stars,” spending hours daily perfecting his routines, Howard took a meaningful pause from his rigorous dance schedule to celebrate a fellow NBA veteran’s remarkable journey.

The 8x NBA All-Star Howard recently shared a heartfelt Instagram post commemorating Rudy Gay’s retirement after an impressive 17-year NBA career. “@rudygay You took basketball a long way 🙌🏾 congrats on a great career man,” wrote Howard on his Instagram. The gesture speaks volumes about their shared history, dating back to their numerous battles in the Eastern Conference during the late 2000s when Howard’s Orlando Magic frequently clashed with Gay’s Memphis Grizzlies. Even Gay was quick to catch up with Howard. “🙌🙌,” commented back Gay on Howard’s post.

Gay’s retirement signals the end of an era for NBA basketball. The 6’8″ forward left as a 6th pick by the New York Knicks in the 2006 NBA Draft with consistency and versatility few players will be able to live up to. Gay finished his career with over 17,000 points and averaged 15.8 per game over 1,120 regular season appearances. Over a decade, he was a feared opponent, a scorer, and a creator of his own shot. Howard and Gay’s paths crossed a lot during their careers, but most famously during the 2008-2009 season when both players were nearing their primes.

Over the course of his career, the Maryland native journeyed through several NBA cities including the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz. Known as one of the league’s best scorers during his prime years with the Grizzlies (2006 – 2013), Gay averaged 17.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor.

Now coming to Dancing with the Stars, Howard’s determination towards the show has paid off as after week five the NBA Star-pro dancer duo has a total of 125 points. While Howard continues to chase mirror ball trophy glory in the competition, his thoughtful tribute to Gay reminds us that the basketball community remains close-knit, celebrating each other’s milestones even as their paths diverge into new adventures. However, there are times when the Olympic Gold winner even makes mistakes.

When Dwight Howard ‘stumbled’ in DWTS

Daniella Karagach, the professional dancer on “Dancing with the Stars,” faced a significant challenge when paired with NBA star Dwight Howard for Season 33. Despite their initial success, a major setback threatened to derail their entire DWTS journey.

During the third week of the competition, Howard and Karagach performed a Cha-Cha routine on Soul Train Night. Midway through the dance, Howard stumbled and momentarily forgot his steps. Instead of panicking or stopping the dance, he showcased a remarkable presence of mind by improvising and creating new movements on the spot.

“I literally turned around and he was not there and he was just like feeling the music. I was like you know what it’s better than just standing there right? Like kudos to him for not just standing there and freaking out. I loved the fact that he was able to be like – forgot the steps, oh well, let me just make my own thing up,” said Karagach during a podcast.

While the mistake was visible, the judges seemed to omit them and gave the dancer duo a total of 23 points. While his chemistry and dedication ultimately earned them a spot in the Finals, Howard’s ability to express his synergy for his peers shows the former center’s sportsmanship.