Dwight Howard Wants to Make His Idol Wilt Chamberlin Proud at Philadelphia 76ers

Dwight Howard and his transition from the Lakers to 76ers was nothing short of a plot with tons of twists. Last season, it seemed like Howard had come to life once again for the Los Angeles Lakers. He played a crucial role on the defensive end, eventually winning them their 17th championship title.

Both the Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers have been very active this offseason. Both have very separate agendas in mind. While the defending champions are forming a roster to better their chances at a repeat, the Sixers are trying to build a team that can at least get them a spot in the playoffs next season.

This led to the Sixers bringing in Danny Green and Dwight Howard from the Lakers. However, the trade surrounding Dwight was quite chaotic. At first, some misunderstanding led to the veteran believing he was going to stay with the Lakers. This led to him announcing it on Twitter, something NBA Insider’s also confirmed.

Later, the tweet vanished from his page and reports came about that no official deal of such kind has been made and Howard is exploring his options this offseason. It wasn’t very long after this that his official move to the Sixers was made.

What does it mean to Howard to play for the 76ers?

Dwight has shown extreme excitement to play for the Sixers. It also seems like he is forming a bond with the two Philadelphia superstars, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

Talking about his journey so far, Dwight stated, “This year has been a roller coaster – for everyone, not just myself. To come out of the bubble with a championship, to be back with my family, and my kids, it’s meant so much. To actually be playing in Philadelphia – it’s a great honor.”

Howard revealed his favorite player was also part of the same franchise he is now joining. He said, “My favorite player in life, Wilt Chamberlain, played for the Philadelphia 76ers. I’m about to be playing on the same team as him. It’s very humbling. I’m looking forward to just going out there, and being the best Dwight I can be, for the fans, for the city, but also for big Wilt. I know he’s watching.”

With smart moves this offseason, it looks like the 76ers are ready to make some noise in the league. Will Dwight Howard’s veteran leadership play a crucial role in Embiid and Simmons’ game?