Former Los Angeles Lakers veteran, future Hall-of-Famer, and current free agent center Dwight Howard could take his talents into the world of sports entertainment once he's done with his NBA career.
Howard has been one of the more unique and fun-loving personalities in the league since being drafted #1 overall in 2004. He is the largest player to ever win the Slam Dunk Contest, dazzling fans with his creativity and athleticism each time he entered. When the games matter,, Howard has had a career that netted him eight All-Star selections.
However, the last five years of his career has shown a steep decline in ability. No longer is he the dominant force he once was. At 36, his role has gone from superstar piece to rotation player on his last few teams, as the insane athleticism he once had has been diminished by the wear and tear of a long career.
Howard is still a free agent. In 2021-2022, despite injuries to star big man Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers did not expand Howard’s role on the team and he only averaged just over 16 minutes a game. This could be a sign that his time in the NBA is nearing and end and with that possibility in mind, Howard is looking to pivot in life after professional basketball.
Before their highly-anticipated SummerSlam pay-per-view event in Nashville, Tennessee on July 30, WWE conducted open tryouts for charismatic athletes looking to break into the professional wrestling business with the top organization in the world. Events such as this are a common practice for the company, as they often invite collegiate or former pro athletes to find out if pro wrestling could be their next vocation
This year, Howard saw an opportunity and actually attended the workouts in the hope of joining the promotion that created its own universe and unique form of sports entertainment. At the tryout, hopefuls run drills in an official WWE ring and showcased their charisma by flexing their talking skills on an open mic. In the video below, Howard takes to the mic and does a rendition of cult classic movie villain Sho’nuff from “The Last Dragon.”
It is unclear if Howard impressed decision-makers enough to get an invite to the organization’s development center in Florida. But it isn’t out of the realm of possibility. The WWE roster currently includes several former UFC stars like Ronda Rousey and Matt Riddle, and one-time US Olympic wrestler Chad Gable.
They also signed 2021 Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Gable Steveson to a developmental deal last year, and two months ago added YouTube influencer turned boxer Logan Paul to their official roster. Howard could be another pro in another spot to join the pro wrestling ranks.
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