Dwight Howard Laments DWTS Exit With Sombre Moment Post Elimination

It’s been over a week since the grand finale of Dancing with the Stars Season 33 lit up television screens on November 26th, but for NBA fans, the season effectively ended a week earlier. Dwight Howard, the towering basketball legend, and his talented dance partner Daniella Karagach were eliminated just one step shy of the finale. For Howard, the journey may have concluded, but his heart still beats to the rhythm of the ballroom.

Howard recently took to Instagram to share his emotions about the experience, posting a photo with the caption: “Wow first Tuesday without @dancingwiththestars 🥲.” The bittersweet sentiment resonated with fans, reflecting his attachment to the show and the transformative journey it represented.

From the outset, Dwight Howard’s participation in Dancing with the Stars was met with curiosity and excitement. Known for his agility on the basketball court, the former NBA champion faced a different kind of challenge under the glittering lights of the ballroom.

Initially, Howard’s pro-dancer Karagach was anxious about how would they coordinate given the difference in their height differences as the NBA champ is  6 feet 10 whereas Karagach is 5-foot-3. However, eventually everything worked out.

“We started rehearsing late, and I had choreography planned out. And when we came into the studio for the first time to actually start rehearsals, I realized I had to switch up pretty much my whole choreography because I couldn’t make it around [him]. He was so tall, I couldn’t get around him. … So, I had to change up pretty much everything. It was crazy,” said Karagach to US Weekly.

The Orlando Magic veteran stunned the audience with his salsa moves along with Karagach to the hit song ‘This is How We Do It‘ by Montell Jordan on the first episode of the show. They got a score of 22 out of 30 points from the judges for their moves.

Moreover, the dance duo’s best performance came in the sixth week which was the special Halloween episode. They performed “Ring Around The Rosie” by District 78 which earned them their first perfect 10 for the season.

Unfortunately, their smooth performance dipped during the 500th episode of “DWTS” on November 12. They had a great start that night with an Argentine Tango but slipped during the surprise dance event in which they attempted paso double. This resulted in the duo getting 22 out of 30 points which was the lowest of that night and they got eliminated.

“I learned so much, not just from dancing but how to be a partner. How to listen, really, to your partner, understand what your partner is saying and try to go out and emulate all those different things and really have your partner’s back. All those things are key,” said Howard (as per ABC News).

Howard’s Instagram post is a testament to how much the experience meant to him. As he adjusts to life post-Dancing with the Stars, one thing is certain: his time on the show will remain a cherished memory. Moreover, this isn’t the only time that the 38-year-old has shown his love for this show.

Howard showcased his obsession with DWTS

On November 26th, Dancing With the Stars crowned its champions, with a spectacular victory by Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson who won the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. While the world celebrated their win, another star emerged as a topic of intrigue—former NBA player Dwight Howard.

Howard recently reflected on his time on DWTS with a collage of images and videos on Instagram. Something was interesting about the content. In one clip, Howard was seen clutching a little replica of the Mirror Ball trophy, a blatant reference to his unfulfilled goal. Moreover, the more interesting thing was when the words “I’ll win Dancing with the Stars,” were scrawled repeatedly on his notepad app on his phone which showed his obsession with the show.

Howard’s obsession with the show is understandable, as he had been waiting for three years to finally become a part of DWTS. “I’ve been trying to do it for three years. This year, I had an opportunity because I didn’t have basketball going on,” said Howard.

While his pro partner Karagach has embraced podcasting as a new profession, Howard remains focused on his dream. Despite his setbacks, it can be speculated he continues to aim for that elusive Mirrorball Trophy, holding onto the hope of a future victory.