The sudden passing of NBA Legend and Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo took the basketball world by storm. As the news broke on September 30, 2024, the world of basketball united to celebrate the life and legacy of the 8× NBA All-Star. Now, with the one-month anniversary upcoming, Dwight Howard paid a special tribute to one of the greatest shot-blockers of all time.

On social media with his Dancing With The Stars partner, Daniella Karagach, an image of their practice was posted. While this was normal for the star, what he wore wasn’t. Howard dawned Mutombo’s iconic Atlanta 55 jersey. Posted by NBAonESPN’s official account, the image was captioned, “Dwight Howard Honors Dikembe for Jersey Day.”

Since Howard joined the show in season 33, his fans have been praising his performance. Along with his partner Karagach, the duo have been posting their practice videos on social media. This image of Howard’s tribute was a nice break and a heart-touching gesture.

Howard and Mutombo did face off on the court. The two had 7 matches against each other, and Mutombo had a 6-1 win over Howard. Unfortunately, the two never met in the playoffs. Regarding their fans, the two are always compared based on their defenses. While both are 8x NBA All-Star winners, fans believe Dwight had the offense while Mutombo was better on defense.

Daniella Karagach defends Dwight Howard on DWTS

Fans of Dancing with the Stars were quick to voice their frustrations on Snapchat after Daniella Karagach’s post seemed to suggest that NBA star Dwight Howard was tardy for rehearsals on October 19. Many were quick to accuse the 6’11” athlete of not taking the competition seriously. However, the dynamic duo wasted no time setting the record straight.

“Actually, he’s always early, by the way. And he’s making me better because I’m usually late to everything,” Karagach clarified on Instagram, squashing the rumors. Howard chimed in as well, assuring fans, “We don’t play that late stuff.” The pair has been a hit on the dance floor, with Howard impressing everyone with a show-stopping Salsa performance on their season premiere.

Karagach couldn’t help but gush about her partner, even calling Howard her favorite partner yet. She frequently shares fun behind-the-scenes moments from rehearsals, giving fans a glimpse into their lighthearted bond and hard work. Though they might not be the strongest couple on the leaderboard, their charm and charisma have made them fan favorites, with many rooting for Howard to take home the Mirrorball Trophy this season.