Dwight Howard Working on His Jump Shot During The Off-Season

 The fact that he can still produce at such a high level at his age is just a testament on how dominant he is physically. It’s way too late for Dwight to be trying to find a jump shot now. If he had that one dominant move he’d have been much more unstoppable than he’s been most of his career. if working with Hakeem didn’t change him at all, I doubt this will do much.

D12 is only 30, it’s not like he’s a Dirk or Pau Gasol still putting up good stats in mid to late 30’s. D12 may be able to refine his game and certainly get his shooting tighter. Work on his FTs so he can get very high percentage from there too.

I doubt he can suddenly find a mid range game but Al Horford last year suddenly started hitting 3’s after several years in the league. I’d assume that Horford had that sort of range in his locker already.

 Yeah he’s only 30 but he came straight out of high school and his game is built around his athleticism unlike Gasol and Dirk who’s Game Center around their all around skillset. Athletic centers who have been in for as long as him don’t age gracefully in their 30’s

 I’m all for adding new weapons to your game but 12 years into your career, why try to develop a jumper now? Atlanta should try to go back to what made Dwight so dominant in the past. Put shooters around him and have him do to town on the PnR.

Even though spacing in today’s NBA is key, stick to your day job Dwight…rebound, defend, and I’d be happy with 15 ppg

Good points as always guys. D12 was never really a spectacular scorer at his peak when he was the focal point of the Magic team, he had one season when he averaged nearly 23ppg. He was a good solid scorer but he wasn’t an elite scorer and his value was on defence.

I agree that Atlanta need to play to his strengths, maybe use the pick and role, they have good shooters on the roster so can spread the floor and Milsap alongside D12 gives the opposition a lot to think about on offence.

D12 has always had a good understanding of the game and after 12 seasons and ongoing injuries, he probably isn’t the player he was but he can still be a very good player doing what he does best.

 Dwight Howard misses a free throw…

"Work on your shooting Dwight!"

Dwight Howard works on his shooting…

"Isn’t it a little too late for that Dwight! You shouldn’t practice those shots or take them!"

Holy cow let the man live. If Jakob Poeltl practices his jumpers and releases video of the workout people will say good for you. Poeltl as an example has a rookie contract and will be in/around the league 5 years guaranteed until renegotiations. Who knows if he even stays in the league. But Dwight. He will be starting for the next 5 years if healthy. That’s 410 games plus likely postseason. Why wouldn’t he practice his shooting its never too late to start and he still has a lot of basketball to play and another big contract to go out and earn.

 It is never too late to work on any aspect of your game. Ever! Also working on your shooting from all spot on the floor allows for repitition. And thus this "can" translate to the free throw line because the goal in taking all those shots is to build muscle memory on your shot.

I would also note that Chris Webber was a horrific outside shooter and improved around age 27 or so. Lebron late his in career went and worked on his post game. Ditto for Kobe Bryant in working with Hakeem. 

Will Dwight become a great jump shooting big man? The odds are slim. But the fact that he is trying to expand his game to remain an asset as a player speaks to his work ethic. 

People can’t criticize Dwight for not taking the game serious enough on one hand and then when he’s working tell him it’s too late and why are you working on that.

Kudos to all players who continue to work on their games. 

From my perspective, Dwight Howard is one of the most frustrating players of all time. He literally never really got better. He has all the physical tools you could want in a big man, but his offensive production has been rather lackluster.

Shaq broke this down beautifully once saying essentially that Howard should be able to score 30 with ease just by getting a layup a quarter on a dump down pass, a putback bucket a quarter, a free throw a quarter and get in the box and post up and get a bucket every quarter. That’s 28 points.

But what’s worse about it when I watch Howard play, I don’t see a guy who pours his heart and soul into every game. I don’t think people begrudge him working on his game, I think they wonder what took him so long.

 I remember when he was in high school he was like the next KG. He started in the NBA as a 4 next to center Kelvin Cato. Then he started getting bigger and bigger with those humungous shoulders he cant even have proper shooting mechanics. Its okay that he’s big now but Howard seemed disinterested in the games since getting traded to the Lakers. Frustrating player will all the physical tools.

If there’s ever a situation in which Dwight is catching the ball at the three point line, taking one dribble and pulling up with a hand in his face,  then the Atlanta coaching staff is doing a very very bad job.

I heard this the first 3 years he was with the magic… Hes just now working on his shot? Im sorry but if he hasnt beent working on it the precious 11 years its not just gonna show up now… Dwight howard is a waste of talent has no drive to be great was a side show with the magic and doesnt seem like he will ever really change his attitude… All pipe dreams