Dwight Howard’s family has grown once again—but not in the way you might expect. Already a proud father to five children, the NBA star has embraced fatherhood in a unique way this time around. Those familiar with Dwight’s life off the court know about his kids: Braylon with Royce Reed, Layla with Tiffany Render, Jayde with Hope Alexa, Dwight III with Christine Vest, and David with the late Melissa Rios. After more than a decade since welcoming his youngest, David, Dwight is now experiencing the joys of being a “dad” all over again.

Surprised? You’re not alone! While Dwight hasn’t welcomed another child in the traditional sense, he’s found companionship in a furry friend. A Belgian Malinois named Angel. The 3x Defensive Player of the Year even created an Instagram page for his new child, aptly named dwight_and_angel. If you need proof of Dwight’s excitement, just look at one of Angel’s posts featuring her and Dwight captioned “My DaD and I.”

This might sound like a quirky choice, but there’s more to the story. As it turns out, Dwight’s connection to the Belgian Malinois breed is deeply personal. Back in 2020, he owned a Malinois named Diablo while coping with the tragic loss of Melissa Rios, David’s mother. “I’ve really just been trying to keep myself busy,” Dwight said in an interview with the LA Times.

Further, during the interview, Dwight Howard even compared Diablo’s personality to his young son’s, highlighting their shared energy and spirit. No wonder the 3x DPOY is treating the new member of the same breed as his own child.

For those unaware, the former Lakers star got Angel as an early birthday gift for himself as he turned 39 this December 8. “I love my birthday gift to myself,” he captioned the video shared on IG. With this new addition, Howard is now a primary custodian to three of his children.

Dwight Howard recently won the custody battle of his daughter

Howard has won many battles on the court, but this time it was in the courtroom. And he won again, securing the custody of his daughter, Layla, after a tough fight with his ex, Tiffany Render. Now, it’s not the first time Howard has stepped up for his family.

After the tragic passing of Melissa Rios, he took on the responsibility of raising their son, David. Now, he’s doing the same for Layla, but without any tragic loss being involved. Court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com revealed that a judge issued a temporary order on January 9, siding with Howard.

The judge noted that Layla is “well adjusted” and shares a strong bond with both her parents, despite the legal drama. But after reviewing evidence and hearing from both sides, the court decided it was “in the best interest” for Howard to take primary custody. A son, a daughter, and a loving dog who is no less than a child: Dwight Howard seems to be completing his family one step at a time.