View source for Juwan Howard

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach (born 1973)}}
{{featured article}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Juwan Howard
| image = Juwan Howard Michigan (cropped).jpg
| alt = Headshot of Juwan Howard, a black middle-aged man with
| caption = Howard as head coach of [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]] in 2020
| position = [[Assistant coach]]
| league = [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
| team = Brooklyn Nets
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 250
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|2|7}}
| birth_place = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Chicago Vocational High School|Chicago Vocational]]
| college = [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]] (1991–1994)
| draft_year = 1994
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 5
| draft_team = [[Washington Bullets]]
| career_start = 1994
| career_end = 2013
| career_position = [[Power forward]] / [[small forward]]
| career_number = 5, 7, 55, 6
| coach_start = 2013
| years1 = {{nbay|1994|start}}–{{nbay|2000|end}}
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards|Washington Bullets / Wizards]]
| years2 = {{nbay|2000|end}}–{{nbay|2001|end}}
| team2 = [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| years3 = {{nbay|2001|end}}–{{nbay|2002|end}}
| team3 = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| years4 = {{nbay|2003|full=y}}
| team4 = [[Orlando Magic]]
| years5 = {{nbay|2004|start}}–{{nbay|2006|end}}
| team5 = [[Houston Rockets]]
| years6 = {{nbay|2007|full=y}}
| team6 = Dallas Mavericks
| years7 = {{nbay|2008|start}}
| team7 = Denver Nuggets
| years8 = {{nbay|2008|full=y}}
| team8 = [[Charlotte Bobcats]]
| years9 = {{nbay|2009|full=y}}
| team9 = [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| years10 = {{nbay|2010|start}}–{{nbay|2012|end}}
| team10 = [[Miami Heat]]
| cyears1 = {{nbay|2013|start}}–{{nbay|2018|end}}
| cteam1 = Miami Heat (assistant)
| cyears2 = [[2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2019]]–[[2023–24 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team |2024]]
| cteam2 = [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]]
| cyears3 = {{nbay|2024|start}}–present
| cteam3 = [[Brooklyn Nets]] (assistant)
| highlights = '''As player:'''
* 2× [[NBA champion]] ({{nbafy|2012}}, {{nbafy|2013}})
* [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|1996}})
* [[All-NBA Third Team]] ({{nbay|1995|end}})
* [[NBA All-Rookie Second Team]] ({{nbay|1994|end}})
* Second-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] – [[National Association of Basketball Coaches|NABC]] ([[1994 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1994]])
* Third-team All-American – [[Associated Press|AP]] (1994)
* First-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1991)
* [[McDonald's All-American Game|McDonald's All-American]] ([[1991 McDonald's All-American Boys Game|1991]])
'''As coach:'''
* [[Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year|AP Coach of the Year]] (2021)
* [[Sporting News Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Coach of the Year]] (2021)
* [[Big Ten]] regular season champion (2021)
* [[Henry Iba Award]] (2021)
* [[Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year|Big Ten Coach of the Year]] (2021)
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 16,159 (13.4 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 7,428 (6.1 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 2,663 (2.2 apg)
}}
'''Juwan Antonio Howard''' ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|uː|'|w|ɑː|n}} {{respell|joo|WAWN}}; born February{{nbsp}}7, 1973)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard - Washington Wizards |url=https://www.nba.com/stats/player/436/career |access-date=5 February 2023 |website=NBA.com}}</ref> is an American  professional [[basketball]] coach and former  player who is an assistant coach for the [[Brooklyn Nets]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). Howard was a collegiate All-American, had a 19-year NBA career with eight different teams (including All-Star and All-NBA nods and two NBA championships), and served as the head coach of the [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team]].

Howard was born and raised in [[Chicago]], Illinois, where he was a high school All-American [[center (basketball)|center]] and an [[honors student]] at [[Chicago Vocational Career Academy]]. He gained national prominence after signing with the [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team]] as part of its [[Fab Five (University of Michigan)|Fab Five]] recruiting class of 1991 (including fellow future NBA stars [[Jalen Rose]] and [[Chris Webber]]), and reached the finals of the [[NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]] in both [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1992]] and [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1993]]. Although many of the Fab Five's accomplishments of the 1990s were vacated due to [[University of Michigan basketball scandal|NCAA rules violations]], Howard was not personally implicated in the scandal and his individual accomplishments, including as a [[1994 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1993–94 NCAA All-American]], continue to be recognized.

He began his NBA career as the fifth overall pick in the [[1994 NBA draft]], selected by the [[Washington Bullets]], and played in Washington for the first seven seasons of a 19-season journeyman career. His longest stints after Washington were three seasons each with the [[Houston Rockets]] (2004–2007) and the [[Miami Heat]] (2010–2013). Howard was a one-time [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star]] and one-time [[All-NBA]] [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]]. He made three [[NBA Finals]] appearances and won two NBA titles, all with the [[Big Three (Miami Heat)|Heatles]]-era Miami Heat, while serving as a veteran role player in his final three NBA seasons.

After retiring as a player in 2013, he remained with the Heat organization as an assistant coach for the next six seasons, before accepting the head coaching position at his alma mater, [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]], in 2019. Howard earned numerous awards for his performance as a coach in the 2020–21 season, including AP National Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard - Men's Basketball Coach |url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/juwan-howard/5767 |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=University of Michigan Athletics |language=en}}</ref> Howard also became the first coach to earn a No.1 seed as both a player and coach, after the Wolverines secured a No. 1 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard - Men's Basketball Coach |url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/juwan-howard/5767 |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=University of Michigan Athletics |language=en}}</ref> Howard coached his son, [[Jett Howard]], at Michigan during the 2022-23 season. 

Howard was fired by Michigan in 2024, and later joined the assistant coaching staff of the [[Brooklyn Nets]].

==Early life==
Howard's grandmother, Jannie Mae Howard, was the daughter of [[sharecropper]]s from [[Belzoni, Mississippi]]. She had four daughters by her 19th birthday, including Howard's mother Helena. Helena was an employee at a Chicago restaurant when she became pregnant with Juwan. Howard's father, Leroy Watson, had just returned from the Army to a phone company job in Chicago. The two married quickly once they realized Helena was pregnant. For Howard's first week of life, his high school junior mother kept him in a drawer at Jannie Mae's house.<ref name="Albom4">{{harvnb|Albom|1993|page=4}}</ref> Helena, who was 17 years old, did not want to be restricted or burdened raising her child, so Jannie Mae adopted him.<ref name=Hehg/> His biological father, Leroy Watson Jr., wanted to name him Leroy Watson, III, but his grandmother rejected the suggestion, insisting on Juwan Antonio Howard.<ref name="GmiH">{{Cite news |last=Mariotti |first=Jay |date=April 5, 1992 |title=Grandma's memory inspires Howard |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=5, sports section}}</ref> Although his mother visited on occasion as he was growing up, his grandmother raised him,<ref name=Albom4/> along with two cousins.<ref name=CU/> Howard has no siblings and is not close to his biological parents;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berkow |first=Ira |author-link=Ira Berkow |date=November 22, 1994 |title=Sports of The Times; The Bullets May Now Be Loaded |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/22/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-bullets-may-now-be-loaded.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> his grandmother was the primary influence in his life.<ref name=Albom4/> He moved with her to several low-income [[South Side, Chicago|Chicago South Side]] projects; she kept him out of trouble and away from gangs as he was growing up.<ref name=Albom4/> One of their residences was a three-bedroom apartment on 69th Street on the South Side of Chicago.<ref name="Hehg">{{Cite news |last=Milbert |first=Neil |date=April 7, 1992 |title=Howard's effort honors grandma |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/04/07/howards-effort-honors-grandma/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> As he blossomed under his grandmother's influence and discipline, he became her "pride and joy".<ref name=Hehg/>

==High school==

Howard went to [[Chicago Vocational Career Academy]], where he went on to play three seasons of varsity basketball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=January 1, 1995 |title=Bullets' Howard practices positive thinking |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/01/01/bullets-howard-practices-positive-thinking/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Vocational had an unheated gym and no [[locker room]]s, which required that the team dress for games in a history classroom.<ref name=CU/> Nonetheless, Howard went on to be named a 1991 All-American basketball player by ''[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]'' magazine and won [[McDonald's All-American Game|McDonald's All American]] honors. He was also chosen for the [[National Honor Society]] and served as Vocational's [[homecoming]] king.<ref name=Hehg/><ref name=GmiH/><ref name=TasiM/><ref name=KHoPA/> During recruiting visits by college coaches such as [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|Illinois]]' [[Lou Henson]], [[DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball|DePaul]]'s [[Joey Meyer (basketball)|Joey Meyer]] and [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]]'s [[Steve Fisher (American basketball coach)|Steve Fisher]], Jannie Mae Howard did most of the questioning.<ref name=GmiH/>

===Sophomore year===
At the start of his sophomore year in 1988, Howard was 15 years old and already expected to be a coveted [[blue chip (sports)|blue chip]] recruit in 1991.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=December 3, 1988 |title=Top players get chance in Shootout |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=108, sports section}}</ref> He was regarded as one of the best sophomore basketball players in the [[Chicago metropolitan area]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=January 2, 1989 |title=Holiday cheer from tournaments – Simeon, King best as most others fail |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=12, sports section}}</ref> He scored 26 points in a [[Chicago Public High School League]] quarterfinal loss against a [[Deon Thomas]]-led [[Simeon Career Academy]] team. Vocational ended the year with a 23–7 record.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Potash |first=Mark |date=March 8, 1989 |title=Brandon free throws lift King |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=119}}</ref> Howard was a second-team selection and the only sophomore named to the league coaches' 20-man 1988–89 All-Public League team.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 24, 1989 |title=All-Public League |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=88, sports section}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=February 24, 1989 |title=Brandon top vote getter – Thomas next |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=88, sports section}}</ref>

The summer after his sophomore year, the {{convert|6|ft|8|in|m|2|adj=on}} center attended the [[ABCD Camp|Nike Academic Betterment and Career Development (ABCD) camp]], which was held annually in [[Princeton, New Jersey]], during the late 1980s.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Armstrong |first=Kevin |date=January 26, 2007 |title=End of an era: Vaccaro closes ABCD camp as he eyes hoops academy |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/highschool/01/25/sonny.vaccaro/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427192926/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/highschool/01/25/sonny.vaccaro/ |archive-date=April 27, 2009 |access-date=September 2, 2010 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> There he was matched against the {{convert|7|ft|4|in|m|2|adj=on}} [[Shawn Bradley]]. At this camp, even though the much-taller Bradley [[block (basketball)|blocked]] his shots several times, Howard established himself as one of the best junior-year [[Basketball terms#B|big men]] in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Temkin |first=Barry |date=July 13, 1989 |title=- The ultimate redshirt: One of the most unusual stories ... |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/07/13/the-ultimate-redshirt-one-of-the/ |access-date=October 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> He was involved in controversy for receiving a second pair of [[Sneaker (footwear)|sneakers]] at the camp because he was suspected of stealing them.<ref name=CHfc/> Howard denied theft, but he was sent home on the last day of the six-day camp.<ref name=CHfc/>

Howard also participated in the Bill Cronauer camp in [[Rensselaer, Indiana]], which more than 100 college coaches attended. According to the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', he was ranked as one of the top 10 [[underclassmen]] in the country during the camp.<ref name="CHfc">{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=July 23, 1989 |title=CVS' Howard fights charge – Basketball star fears college coaches, recruiters may back off |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=22, sports section |quote=Howard, a 6–8 1/2 junior who is rated among the top 10 underclass prospects in the nation ...'I was issued a pair of shoes at the beginning of camp. But they tore. I was issued another pair. Then a counselor gave me another pair. I thought it was a joke. But somebody saw me walk out with a shoebox and thought I had stolen some shoes.'}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=July 22, 1989 |title=Top stars are waiting |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=105, sports section |quote=... Top 20 all-star game at the B/C camp in Rensselaer, Ind ... Juwan Howard, Vocational's 6–8 1/2 junior, showed he is a rising star, establishing himself among the top 10 underclassmen in the nation. In the all-star game, he had 18 points and 12 rebounds.}}</ref> Howard attended other camps that summer; his goal was to overcome Thomas, who was the reigning ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' basketball player of the year,<ref name=CTHRD/> as the best big man in the state.<ref name=CHfc/> By the time he ended his college career in 1994, Howard was drafted a full round ahead of Thomas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1994 NBA Draft |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1994.html |access-date=August 8, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

===Junior year===
As Howard entered his junior year, some sources listed him as the best junior basketball player in Illinois,<ref name="Lpbid">{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=October 28, 1989 |title=Last playoff bids in doubt |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=101, sports section |quote=It's too early to make a formal commitment but Vocational's 6–9 Juwan Howard, rated the best junior basketball prospect in the state, is expected to commit to Illinois. Why? Because Illini freshman Deon Thomas is Howard 's idol. They played against each other in high school. Howard still is considering DePaul, however.}}</ref> while others ranked [[Tom Kleinschmidt]] ahead of him.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=August 4, 1989 |title=S-T tourney looking a year ahead |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=77, sports section}}</ref> Taylor Bell of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' noted that Howard was leaning toward playing either for DePaul or for Illinois. Howard was interested in Illinois because Thomas, whom Howard admired, had become a member of the [[1989–90 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|1989–90 Fighting Illini team]].<ref name=Lpbid/> By the end of his junior year, league coaches named him to the first-team All-Chicago Public School League.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 23, 1990 |title=All-Public League Selections |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=77, sports section}}</ref> He was selected to the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' All-Area team as well as the Class-AA All-State team and established himself as the top Chicago-area junior ahead of Kleinschmidt.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 2, 1990 |title=All-Chicago Area Profiles |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=74, sports section}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 16, 1990 |title=Class-AA All-State Profiles |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=83, sports section}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1990 |title=Chicago Area's Top 25 Juniors |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=107, sports section}}</ref> Howard had a sub-par performance against [[King College Prep High School|King High School]] in the Chicago Public School League semifinals,<ref name=SHcho/> but the ''Chicago Tribune'' named him to its All-State second team.<ref name=CHcMAS/> Vocational finished the year 24–7.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Paul |date=March 13, 1990 |title=Brandon, King Streak Past Cvs |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/03/13/brandon-king-streak-past-cvs/ |access-date=March 4, 2013 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

Howard was also an honors student.<ref name=SHcho/> After his junior year, he was one of 10 Illinois players invited back to the Nike All-American Camp at Princeton. Others invited included Kleinschmidt, [[Donnie Boyce]], [[William Gates (basketball)|William Gates]], [[Billy Taylor (basketball)|Billy Taylor]], [[Rashard Griffith]] and [[Howard Nathan]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1990 |title=Penguins hire Johnson, Bowman |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=119, sports section}}</ref> Although Howard was considered one of the top prospects in the city of Chicago at that time, the player perceived as the best Chicago-area prospect was [[Glenn Robinson]] of [[Gary, Indiana]].<ref name="Wherethe1990">{{Cite news |date=July 1, 1990 |title=Where the camps will be in action during July |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=25, sports section}}</ref> By this time, Howard had eliminated DePaul from consideration since Deryl Cunningham, another Chicago-area all-star who might have otherwise convinced Howard to stay in Chicago, had transferred to [[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball|Kansas State]]. He was considering Michigan, [[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball|Michigan State]], [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]], [[Arizona Wildcats men's basketball|Arizona]], [[Dayton Flyers men's basketball|Dayton]], [[Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball|Marquette]] and Illinois.<ref name="Wherethe1990" /> Howard was evaluated as the best senior basketball player at the camp; the group of players in attendance included [[Chris Webber]], [[Cherokee Parks]], Robinson and [[Alan Henderson]].<ref name=SHcho/><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 13, 1990 |title=High School Report |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=84, sports section}}</ref>

After being named [[Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) at the prestigious Boston Shootout and acknowledged as the leading participant at the Nike camp, Howard was mentioned as the best prospect in the country. By this time, he had dropped Michigan State and Illinois from his list of possible college destinations and had begun considering [[UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball|UNLV]] as well.<ref name="SHcho">{{Cite news |last=Travis |first=Clyde |date=July 15, 1990 |title=Sought-after Howard considers his options |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=20, sports section}}</ref> Following his time at the Nike camp, his household was besieged by recruiters. Howard issued the following statement: "Contact my coach. I do not want my grandmother and aunt upset about calls at all times of the day and night. I'm not the only person who lives in this house. I think my wishes should be respected. If not, when it comes time to make my decision, I'll take those things into account."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Travis |first=Clyde |date=July 18, 1990 |title=CVS' Howard upset by pushy recruiting |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=111, sports section}}</ref> Although Howard was the best performer at the camp, talent scout Bob Gibbons felt Webber and Robinson were equally talented prospects.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=August 5, 1990 |title=3 top Class of '91 as best in nation – CVS' Howard vying for No. 1 rating |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=22, sports section |quote=Gibbons, based in Lenoir, N.C., flew from Charlotte, N.C., to Philadelphia to Washington to Louisville, Ky., to Long Beach, California, to Houston to Chicago to Memphis, Tenn., to Las Vegas, Nev., to Lubbock, Texas, to Dallas to Memphis to Charlotte and determined there are three major candidates going into the 1990–91 season. And each of them is a 6–9 center-forward}}</ref> Despite Howard's most recently listed college preferences and the fact that the team was under investigation for recruiting violations, Illinois continued pursuing Howard as its number one recruit.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Potash |first=Mark |date=July 23, 1990 |title=Morris Shootout draws Henson's full attention |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=111, sports section}}</ref> By the end of July 1990, Howard was projected to sign with Michigan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Potash |first=Mark |date=July 27, 1990 |title=High School Report |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=84, sports section}}</ref>

===Senior year===
During Michigan's in-home visit, Howard's grandmother treated Michigan [[head coach]] Fisher, his assistants [[Mike Boyd (basketball)|Mike Boyd]] and Brian Dutcher, Vocational coach Cook, Vocational assistant coach Donnie Kirskey, Lois Howard (Howard's aunt) and Howard to a [[soul food]] dinner.<ref>{{harvnb|Albom|1993|page=2}}</ref> Dutcher had the responsibility to contact Howard several times a week.<ref name="Albom3">{{harvnb|Albom|1993|page=3}}</ref> Howard grew close to assistant coach Kirskey, often staying at his house and using his car once he got a [[driver's license]].<ref name="Albom5">{{harvnb|Albom|1993|page=5}}</ref> During the summer 1990 30-day visitation period, Dutcher watched Howard practice 28 consecutive days.<ref name=Albom3/> Dutcher developed an understanding of the dynamics of Howard's relationship with his grandmother. While other coaches, such as [[Lute Olson]], almost ignored her during the recruiting, Dutcher understood that she was the key influence on his life,<ref name=Albom4/> and understood that Kirskey also had sway with Howard. He encouraged Fisher to hire Kirskey for a summer basketball camp, which became the young athlete's introduction to [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]].<ref name=Albom5/>

Howard was the president of Vocational's Senior Boys' Council.<ref>{{harvnb|Albom|1993|page=1}}</ref> In the final days before his senior season decision regarding his [[college basketball]] team, Howard wavered between [[Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball|Arizona State]] and Michigan. He also made an official visit to Dayton.<ref name="CHcMAS">{{Cite news |last=Temkin, Barry |last2=Sullivan, Paul |last3=Young, Linda |date=October 31, 1990 |title=CVS' Howard considers Michigan, Arizona State |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/10/31/cvs-howard-considers-michigan-arizona-state/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Despite the ongoing recruiting scandal, he made an unofficial visit to Illinois, which had recruited four of the five previous Chicago Public School League Illinois Players of the Year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=October 29, 1990 |title=Publics await word on Illini |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=102, sports section}}</ref> At the time of his decision, Howard was considered one of the top five seniors in the country, but unlike many top basketball recruits, he decided not to hold a press conference to announce his choice.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Temkin |first=Barry |date=November 1, 1990 |title=CVS star on verge of choice |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/11/01/cvs-star-on-verge-of-choice/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Although the official signing period was set for November 14–21, 1990, he selected Michigan on November 2.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Temkin, Barry |last2=Steve Nidetz |date=November 2, 1990 |title=Michigan gets CVS' Howard |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/11/02/michigan-gets-cvs-howard/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Howard's grandmother died of a heart attack a few hours after he announced that he would attend Michigan,<ref name=Hehg/> and he moved in with his high school coach, Richard Cook.<ref name=GmiH/>

Howard averaged 26.9 points, 8.4 [[Rebound (basketball)|rebounds]] and 3.4 [[assist (basketball)|assists]] during his senior season,<ref name=Hehg/> and finished in the top 10 percent of his academic class.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 16, 1991 |title=Class of 1991 The dedication |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-06-16/sports/9102230619_1_state-finals-illinois-state-individual-titles |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708145114/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-06-16/sports/9102230619_1_state-finals-illinois-state-individual-titles |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> He took Vocational to the Public League semifinals where they lost to [[George Westinghouse College Prep|Westinghouse College Prep]], finishing with a 25–5 record, despite his 25 points and 12 rebounds.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Potash |first=Mark |date=March 10, 1991 |title=W-house maneuvers past CVS |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=32}}</ref> He befriended [[Jimmy King]] when they visited Michigan on the same weekend; according to the ''Chicago Tribune'' Fisher Howard influenced King's decision to also enroll there.<ref name=Hehg/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Temkin |first=Barry |last2=Knue |first2=George |date=November 11, 1990 |title=CVS' Howard already pays Michigan dividend |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/11/11/cvs-howard-already-pays-michigan-dividend/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |quote=Thursday, 6-foot-4-inch guard Jimmy King of Plano, Texas, announced he would sign a letter-of-intent with Michigan during the Nov. 14–21 early-signing period. King is regarded as one of the top 20 prospects in the nation. A major reason he chose Michigan is the 6–9 Howard, who had orally committed to the school a week earlier.}}</ref> According to Clyde Travis of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'', Howard's verbal commitment made up for Fisher's failure to recruit [[Eric Montross]] the prior year,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Travis |first=Clyde |date=November 2, 1990 |title=Howard to Michigan |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=101, sports section |quote=Fisher was desperate to land a player of Howard 's caliber after losing Eric Montross to North Carolina last year and apparently losing 6–9 Chris Webber of Birmingham, Mich., the nation's No. 2 prospect this year, to Michigan State.}}</ref> even though Montross's father and grandfather had played for Michigan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lincicome |first=Bernie |date=April 5, 1993 |title=Dislike Michigan? Count the ways |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/05/dislike-michigan-count-the-ways/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> With [[Jalen Rose]], Webber, Howard and King—along with [[Ray Jackson (basketball)|Ray Jackson]], a less-heralded prospect—the Michigan recruiting class was considered to be the best in the nation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Armour |first=Terry |date=April 14, 1991 |title=Michigan adds to riches Wolverines assemble top freshman class |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/04/14/michigan-adds-to-riches/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Some regarded the class as among the greatest recruiting classes of all time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Armour |first=Terry |date=April 28, 1991 |title=Michigan gets top guns 'Great recruiter' Fisher lures 4 of top 10 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/04/28/michigan-gets-top-guns/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=March 28, 1991 |title=Michigan's recruiting class hailed as best |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=94, sports section}}</ref>

As a senior, Howard edged Griffith and [[Kiwane Garris]] for the most votes to the ''Sun-Times''' annual All-Chicago Public School League boys' basketball team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=February 22, 1991 |title=Howard tops All-Public team |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=71, sports section}}</ref> He was also selected to the All-Area team and was a repeat Class-AA All-State selection.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 1, 1991 |title=All-Chicago Area Boys' Basketball Profiles |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=88, sports section}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 15, 1991 |title=Boys' Class AA All-State Profiles |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=87, sports section}}</ref> Howard, Kleinschmidt and Robinson were all selected to the 10-member first team of ''Parade'' magazine's 40-member high school All-America boys' basketball team.<ref name="KHoPA">{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=March 3, 1991 |title=Kleinschmidt, Howard on Parade All-America |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=28, sports section}}</ref> They were also chosen to play in the McDonald's All-America game.<ref name="TasiM">{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=March 19, 1991 |title=Two area stars in McDonald's |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=79, sports section}}</ref> West MVP Webber posted 28 points and 12 rebounds in the game; with Howard adding 16 points. The West won 108–106.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 7, 1991 |title=Webber, Howard help West capture McDonald's game |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=30, sports section}}</ref> Howard also earned the Gatorade Circle of Champions' Illinois Player of the Year Award.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 16, 1993 |title=Mashburn, Cheaney Top AP All-America |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=75, sports section}}</ref> Howard's [[ACT test]] score was high enough to make him eligible under [[Proposition 48 (NCAA)|Proposition 48]] academic requirements to play as a freshman.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 30, 1991 |title=Michigan's Howard eligible |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=81, sports section}}</ref> Only eight of the top 25 Chicago Public School League players achieved a qualifying score on the test.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=May 10, 1991 |title=ACT proves disaster for most top recruits – Results this season seen as the worst since '84 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=81, sports section}}</ref>

==College career==

===Freshman year===
[[File:Fab Five original crop.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Five black men in gold athletic uniforms in the foreground on the sidelines of an athletic court while a few opposing athletes in green wait in the middle of the court.|Michigan's [[Fab Five (University of Michigan)|Fab Five]] (left to right) [[Jimmy King]], [[Jalen Rose]], [[Chris Webber]], [[Ray Jackson (basketball)|Ray Jackson]], and Howard]]

Howard matriculated to the University of Michigan and joined his fellow freshmen for the [[1991–92 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|1991–92 Michigan Wolverines]] in forming a group that became known as the [[Fab Five (University of Michigan)|Fab Five]]. He also joined future NBA personalities [[Eric Riley]] and [[Rob Pelinka]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Temkin |first=Barry |date=April 2, 1993 |title='Fab' also applies to this role player |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/02/fab-also-applies-to-this-role-player/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> As Michigan celebrated [[Midnight Madness (basketball)|Midnight Madness]] on October 15, 1991, there was already talk that at least four of the five freshmen would be starting before the season ended.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Taylor |date=October 15, 1991 |title=Chicago players court fame |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=70, sport section}}</ref> (The five eventually started in a combined 304 of a possible 350 man-games among them during their first two seasons.)<ref name="MB07-8p13-21" /> Early in his freshman season, Howard started in some games and came off the bench in others for the highly rated Wolverines.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Paul |date=January 18, 1992 |title=Illini face Michigan-and the one who got away |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/01/18/illini-face-michigan-and-the-one-who-got-away/ |access-date=October 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Over time, he won a starting role from Riley.<ref name=HDICT/> In Michigan's first matchup against Illinois, Howard scored 13 points and denied Thomas the ball consistently enough to hold him to 8 shots. His biggest contribution in the game was getting his hand on a loose ball to force a [[jump ball]] with 16 seconds left and Michigan leading by only three points.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Paul |date=January 19, 1992 |title=Michigan holds off Illinois |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/01/19/michigan-holds-off-illinois/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> In the [[Elite Eight]] round of the [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]], Michigan faced a [[Jim Jackson (basketball)|Jimmy Jackson]]-led [[1991–92 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State Buckeyes]] team that had beaten them twice during the regular season by double-digit margins.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boers |first=Terry |date=March 29, 1992 |title=Michigan's 'Fab Five' vow to have their say |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=8, sports section}}</ref> Michigan won the rematch, during which the Fab Five scored all but two of the Wolverines' points.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hanley |first=Brian |date=March 30, 1992 |title=Who'll reign – and who'll wane? |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=90, sports section}}</ref>

[[File:Juwan Howard, UM Men's Basketball, 1991 vs Chicago State.jpg|thumb|Howard in 1991 playing against Chicago State]]

The victory gave the 24–8 Wolverines a berth in the [[final four|Final Four]], where they found themselves matched against a 29–4 [[Bob Huggins]]-coached [[1991–92 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team|Cincinnati Bearcats]] team that averaged 83.6 [[point (basketball)|points]] per game and had lost to only three teams, two of which had beaten Michigan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milbert |first=Neil |date=April 4, 1992 |title=Fisher out of Michigan spotlight |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/04/04/fisher-out-of-michigan-spotlight/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> [[Nick Van Exel]] led Cincinnati in postseason scoring.<ref name="CMcd">{{Cite news |last=Hanley |first=Brian |date=April 3, 1992 |title=Cincy-Michigan choice debatable |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=93, sports section}}</ref> Howard, King and Riley shaved their heads for the game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=April 3, 1992 |title='Guilt' keeps Raveling at Southern Cal |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/04/03/guilt-keeps-raveling-at-southern-cal/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Michigan won and earned a rematch with a [[1991–92 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke Blue Devils team]] that had beaten them by three points in overtime in December.<ref name=Hehg/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lincicome |first=Bernie |date=April 5, 1992 |title=Too young to get this far ... Not! |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/04/05/too-young-to-get-this-far-not/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> In the initial contest, Howard had scored only four points.<ref name=Hehg/> Entering the final game, he was averaging 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds for the season.<ref name=Hehg/> The day before the game, Howard had stomach cramps and fever and received fluids to combat dehydration. As a result, he was exempted from mandatory media meetings.<ref name="LHwba">{{Cite news |last=Boers |first=Terry |last2=Hanley |first2=Brian |date=April 7, 1992 |title=Little Hurley wins big award |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=85, sports section}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Boers, Terry |last2=Brian Hanley |date=April 6, 1992 |title=Duke fears sprain might sideline Davis |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=90, sports section}}</ref> Howard was part of a rotation with Webber and Riley that guarded the National Player of the Year, [[Christian Laettner]].<ref name=Hehg/> During Laettner's first six possessions against Howard, Laettner dribbled the basketball off his foot, missed a shot, threw a pass that resulted in a [[turnover (basketball)|turnover]], [[traveling (basketball)|traveled]], threw the ball away and hit the backboard with a shot.<ref name=Hehg/> Duke scored in its final 12 possessions of the championship game, going on a 23–6 run to win by a final margin of 71–51.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milbert, Neil |date=April 7, 1992 |title=Michigan kids crushed, but Howard sees title in '93. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/04/07/michigan-kids-crushed-but-howard-sees-title-in-93/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Despite his condition, Howard contributed 9 points in 29 minutes.<ref name=LHwba/> Howard earned a reputation for his quick feet, ability to grasp fundamentals, and excellent moves in the [[low post]], but also for his 1-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio and a high number of [[foul (basketball)|fouls]].<ref name=Hehg/>

===Sophomore year===
As his sophomore year began, media reports alleged that three Wolverines basketball players were paid $300 each to participate in a charity basketball tournament in mid-1992, during the off-season. The reports further alleged that some others, including Howard, appeared at several summer basketball camps together, which was a possible violation of NCAA rules.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosewater, Amy |date=September 17, 1992 |title=3 Ineligible at Michigan – Basketball Players Received Money in Charity Tourney |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=92, sports section}}</ref> At the beginning of his [[1992–93 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|1992–93 sophomore season]], Michigan returned its top nine scorers and began the season ranked number one in the country by the [[Associated Press]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stoda, Greg |date=November 17, 1992 |title=U-M At Top Of The Polls |work=[[Detroit Free Press]]}}</ref> Michigan lost its second game of the season in a rematch with [[1992–93 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adande, J. A. |date=December 6, 1992 |title=Top Tow Take a Tumble – Duke, Kansas knock Off Michigan (1), Indiana (2) |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=1, sports section}}</ref> Howard was described as the steadiest player on the team that season by coach Fisher.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milbert, Neil |last2=Andrew Bagnato |date=January 12, 1993 |title=Fisher praises Howard's play |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/01/12/fisher-praises-howards-play/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> During the season, Howard purchased a million-dollar disability insurance policy approved by the NCAA under the Exceptional Student Athlete Disability Insurance Program available to student-athletes who are projected to be chosen high in the NBA, [[National Football League]] (NFL), and [[Major League Baseball]] drafts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 18, 1992 |title=Michigan Super Sophs Are Worth Millions |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=97, sports section}}</ref>

[[File:Juwan Howard, UM Men's Basketball, vs Central Michigan, 1993.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Howard in 1993]]

In the semifinals of the [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]] against [[1992–93 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]], Howard contributed on offense and held [[Jamal Mashburn]] in check defensively; Mashburn did not make a field goal in the last 12:36 of regulation.<ref name="OAFFPTNF">{{Cite news |last=Mariotti, Jay |date=April 4, 1993 |title=Once Again, Fab Five Prove They're No Fad |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=2, sports section |quote=... Juwan Howard, the steady, bullish center from Chicago who did such a terrific defensive job on Jamal Mashburn ...}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Adande, J. A. |date=April 4, 1993 |title=Mich. Again – N.C., Too – Wolverines Fabulous In Overtime |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=1, sports section |quote=Mashburn scored 26 points, but had only nine after halftime and went the last 12:36 of regulation without a field goal.}}</ref> Sportswriter [[Jay Mariotti]] wrote that Howard had done "a terrific defensive job" in guarding Mashburn.<ref name=OAFFPTNF/> The 31–4 Wolverines were matched up against the 33–4 [[1992–93 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina Tar Heels]] in the championship game; both Fisher and North Carolina head coach [[Dean Smith]] were seeking their second national title.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=April 5, 1993 |title=Season's end is Finally near Michigan, N. Carolina vie for title |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/05/seasons-end-is-finally-near/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> During the championship game Howard picked up his second [[Personal foul (basketball)|personal foul]] with 9 minutes 42 seconds remaining in the first half and was soon substituted out as the entire team dealt with an accumulation of fouls.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bagnato, Andrew |date=April 6, 1993 |title=Closely called game creates foul mood Carolina wins battle of free throws |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/06/closely-called-game-creates-foul-mood/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |quote=From the beginning, it was clear that the referees were going to call this heavyweight brawl closely. Too closely, Michigan might have thought. By halftime, Wolverines Chris Webber, Juwan Howard and Jimmy King each had two fouls, and Ray Jackson had three ... The game shifted when Howard and Webber drew their second fouls in a 64-second span midway through the first half. Howard's second came with 9 minutes 42 seconds until the break; Webber's with 8:38 left. After Webber's foul, Fisher replaced Howard with 7-footer Eric Riley. But Fisher couldn't afford to have both big men on the bench, so Webber had to begin playing cautiously.}}</ref><ref name=Mcft/> The game would be remembered for a late [[technical foul]] against Webber for attempting to call a [[Time-out (sport)|time out]] when the Wolverines had none left; this led to a Tar Heels victory.<ref name="Mcft">{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=April 6, 1993 |title=Michigan calls fatal timeout |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/06/michigan-calls-fatal-timeout/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=April 7, 1993 |title=Webber deserves a break ... and Carolina more credit |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/07/webber-deserves-a-break/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Over the course of the season, Howard averaged 14.6 points and 7.4 rebounds.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 25, 1993 |title=College Basketball '93–'94 – Big Ten Conference |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=133, sports section}}</ref> After the season, Webber and Howard were invited to try out for the United States national basketball team that would compete at the [[1993 Summer Universiade|1993 World University Games]] and [[FIBA Under-21 World Championship|Under-22 World Championships]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=April 22, 1993 |title=Top collegians invited to international tryout |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/04/22/top-collegians-invited-to-international-tryout/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Howard did not make the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seventeenth World University Games – 1993 |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/worlduniversity/mwug_1993.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523072126/http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/worlduniversity/mwug_1993.html |archive-date=May 23, 2012 |access-date=May 22, 2012 |publisher=[[USA Basketball]]}}</ref>

===Junior year===
With Webber's departure for the NBA after his sophomore season, the [[1993–94 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|1993–94 Wolverines team]] entered the season ranked fifth in the nation as it opened the season against number 13 {{cbb link|1993|sex=men|team=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets|school=Georgia Institute of Technology|title=Georgia Tech}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=November 26, 1993 |title=With No One To Lean On This Season, Michigan's Rose Grows Up |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/11/26/with-no-one-to-lean-on-this-season-michigans-rose-grows-up/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Since his grandmother had been born on December 25, Howard got a tattoo reading "Jannie Mae" over his heart during Christmas break.<ref name="CU">{{Cite magazine |last=Howard, Johnette |date=February 26, 1996 |title=Cleaning Up: Juwan Howard, a do-everything forward the Bullets resignedly drafted, is wiping out his NBA opponents |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1007777/1/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410172751/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1007777/1/index.htm |archive-date=April 10, 2013 |access-date=March 5, 2013 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> During the season, Howard contracted the [[chicken pox]] in January.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adande, J. A. |date=January 24, 1994 |title=Game of the Day For Spotty Play – Michigan's Howard Chills Listless Illini |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=100, sports section}}</ref> Michigan had a 21–6 (13–4 [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]]) record and tied with the [[1993–94 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue Boilermakers]] for the conference lead with one game remaining.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 10, 1994 |title=Michigan Ties For Big 10 Lead |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |id={{ProQuest|283770889}}}}</ref> Michigan then lost (for the third time in its last four games) to a struggling {{cbb link|1993|sex=men|team=Northwestern Wildcats|school=Northwestern University|title=Northwestern Wildcats}} team,<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 13, 1994 |title=College Basketball; Hard Day for the High and Mighty: Arkansas and Company Take Falls |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/13/sports/college-basketball-hard-day-for-high-mighty-arkansas-company-take-falls.html |access-date=May 19, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> and finished second in the Big Ten.<ref name="USRWPMTFHIMR">{{Cite news |last=Deardorff, Julie |date=March 25, 1994 |title=Underdogs Still Running With Pack Maryland, Tulsa Face Heavyweights In Midwest Regional |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/03/25/underdogs-still-running-with-pack/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> After the season, Howard was selected as a first team All-Big-Ten member along with his teammate Rose, Purdue's Robinson, Michigan State's [[Shawn Respert]], and Indiana's [[Damon Bailey]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 15, 1994 |title=All-Big Ten |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=87, sports section}}</ref> In the opening round of the [[1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]], Howard helped Michigan to a 78–74 overtime victory over [[1993–94 Pepperdine Waves men's basketball team|Pepperdine]] by scoring 28 points and adding 9 rebounds before fouling out.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=March 18, 1994 |title=Michigan Needs OT To Escape Pepperdine |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/03/18/michigan-needs-ot-to-escape-pepperdine/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> In the second round, Howard posted 34 points and 18 rebounds to lead the team to an 84–79 victory over [[1993–94 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team|Texas]].<ref name="HKMAH3P1RRT">{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=March 20, 1994 |title=Howard Keeps Michigan Alive His 34 Points, 18 Rebounds Repel Texas |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/03/20/howard-keeps-michigan-alive/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Michigan faced a [[Joe Smith (basketball)|Joe Smith]]-led [[1993–94 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]] in the Sweet Sixteen round.<ref name=USRWPMTFHIMR/> Howard scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds before fouling out with 2:49 remaining in the 78–71 victory.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gould, Herb |date=March 26, 1994 |title=Big Ten Splits – Michigan Foils Maryland Bid – Arkansas Next |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=104, sports section}}</ref> Howard earned the regional MVP award with a game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds in the Elite Eight round, despite collecting two fouls in the first two minutes and losing against the [[1993–94 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas Razorbacks]], which had [[United States President]] [[Bill Clinton]] in attendance as a vocal supporter.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deardorff, Julie |date=March 28, 1994 |title=Michigan Suffers Shortfall Howard Not Enough, So It's Arkansas |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-03-28/sports/9403280204_1_arkansas-michigan-corliss-big-nasty-williamson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531071807/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-03-28/sports/9403280204_1_arkansas-michigan-corliss-big-nasty-williamson |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

On April 18, Howard announced his intention to enter the [[1994 NBA draft]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=April 19, 1994 |title=Howard, The 'Rock' For Michigan, Enters NBA Draft |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/04/19/howard-the-rock-for-michigan-enters-nba-draft/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> The following day, Rose announced he would enter the draft as well.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myslenski, Skip |date=April 20, 1994 |title=Michigan's Fav 5 Slips To 2 As Rose Enters NBA Draft |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/04/20/michigans-fab-5-slips-to-2-as-rose-enters-nba-draft/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Howard was 37 [[credit hour]]s short of University of Michigan degree requirements, but said he intended to keep his promise to his grandmother that he would earn his diploma.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 1994 |title=Sports People: College Basketball; Howard of Michigan To Enter N.B.A. Draft |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/19/sports/sports-people-college-basketball-howard-of-michigan-to-enter-nba-draft.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Howard left Michigan after being named an Associated Press third team [[1994 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] during his junior year, and was taken by the [[Washington Bullets]] fifth overall in the 1994 NBA Draft.<ref name="JHBR">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01.html |access-date=May 18, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Howard was represented by [[David Falk]].<ref name="HHOARBHAN">{{Cite news |last=Armour |first=Terry |date=September 28, 1994 |title=Howard Hangs Out As Rumors Bounce Him Around NBA |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/09/28/howard-hangs-out-as-rumors-bounce-him-around-nba/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

===Graduation===
[[File:1995 U-M Commencement, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, in Michigan Stadium.jpg|thumb|alt=Three black men wearing full academic dresses|Howard with King and Jackson at their graduation ceremony]]

Howard became the first NBA athlete who entered the draft early and graduated with his academic class,<ref name="JHNBABIO">{{Cite web |title=Players: Juwan Howard (Bio) |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/bio.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013003826/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/bio.html |archive-date=October 13, 2008 |access-date=August 20, 2008 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> thus fulfilling a promise he had made to his grandmother on the last day he saw her alive.<ref name=FHSCBD/><ref name=TADHKHPTHG/> He told [[Mitch Albom]] that when he made it to the NBA, he realized how much leisure time the multimillionaire players had and decided to do something productive instead of find ways to spend his new riches. "I knew if I kept pushing it off, I'd never get it done", he said. He completed his final 32 course hours by taking summer classes in 1994 during the NBA off-season. He took correspondence classes and [[independent study]] courses during the following season, studying on road trips and mailing in his papers from the nearest post office. In the end, he earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in communications at Michigan. He told Albom that earning his degree made him a better example when speaking about staying in school.<ref name="TADHKHPTHG">{{Cite web |last=Albom, Mitch |date=April 29, 1995 |title=To A Degree, Howard Keeps His Promise To His Grandmother |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rOgyAAAAIBAJ&pg=6140,5912218&dq=juwan+howard+graduation&hl=en |access-date=September 14, 2010 |website=[[The Free Lance-Star]]}}</ref> Although Howard had spent the prior year playing in the NBA, he returned to campus to partake in graduation ceremonies with his classmates.<ref name="FHSCBD">{{Cite news |last=Alexander, Rachel |date=April 30, 1995 |title=For Howard, Success Comes By Degree; Bullets Rookie's Hard Work Leads to Michigan Graduation |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19558776.html?dids=19558776:19558776&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+30%2C+1995&last=Rachel+Alexander&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=For+Howard%2C+Success+Comes+By+Degree%3B+Bullets+Rookie%27s+Hard+Work+Leads+to+Michigan+Graduation&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105194424/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19558776.html?dids=19558776:19558776&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+30%2C+1995&last=Rachel+Alexander&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=For+Howard%2C+Success+Comes+By+Degree%3B+Bullets+Rookie%27s+Hard+Work+Leads+to+Michigan+Graduation&pqatl=google |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |page=DO1}}</ref> During the graduation, keynote speaker [[Marian Wright Edelman]] paid special recognition to Howard and Fab Five teammates King and Jackson, who graduated together, and noted that Howard's graduation made him a role model for children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Klein, Stephanie Jo |date=May 3, 1995 |title='95 Seniors Bid Bittersweet Goodbye To Blue |work=[[Michigan Daily]]}}</ref>

===Forfeits===
Although the Fab Five's games in the Final Four have since been forfeited,<ref name="MB07-8p8">{{Cite book |title=2007–08 Men's Basketball Media Guide |publisher=University of Michigan |year=2007 |page=8}}</ref> Howard was not among the players, which included [[Robert Traylor]], Webber, Rose, [[Maurice Taylor]], and [[Louis Bullock]], called before a [[grand jury]] to testify<ref name="FUaatiMc">{{Cite news |last=Larcom, Geoff |date=October 19, 2000 |title=Former U-M assistant testifies in Martin case: Also, prosecutors issue two indictments of Martin's associates |work=[[Ann Arbor News]] |publisher=Michigan Live LLC}}</ref> in the [[University of Michigan basketball scandal]]. He was not implicated in the scandal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2002 |title=Text of the indictment |work=[[Ann Arbor News]] |publisher=Michigan Live LLC}}</ref> Although Michigan erased many of its records and accomplishments from 1992 to 1998 as part of self-imposed sanctions, Howard's status as a 1993–94 All-American remained intact.<ref name="MB07-8p13-21">{{Cite book |title=2007–08 Men's Basketball Media Guide |publisher=University of Michigan |year=2007 |pages=13–21}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===Washington Bullets / Wizards (1994–2001)===

====1994–95 season: Rookie season====
Entering the {{nbay|1994|app=season}}, the NBA players and owners had not yet agreed on the terms of a new [[collective bargaining agreement]], and Howard was unsigned two weeks before training camp began. He continued to train in Chicago in late September amidst rumors that his draft rights could be traded to another team.<ref name=HHOARBHAN/> While holding out, he was rumored to be part of a trade package with the [[1994–95 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]] that included [[Calbert Cheaney]] and a first-round draft choice in exchange for [[Scottie Pippen]].<ref name=EGHORTNS/><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 25, 1994 |title=Pippen Talk Heats Up in Miami Again |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=94, sports section}}</ref> Another rumor had Howard being packaged with [[Rex Chapman]] and [[Don MacLean (basketball)|Don MacLean]] for Pippen.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adande, J. A. |date=July 23, 1994 |title=Bullets Pursuing Pippen, But Bulls Aren't Biting |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=93, sports section}}</ref> On November 9, eleventh overall 1994 NBA draft selection [[Carlos Rogers (basketball)|Carlos Rogers]] signed an NBA contract, making Howard the last first-round selection without a contract.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 9, 1994 |title=9-Year Deal For Warriors' Rogers Howard Is Only First-Round Pick Who Hasn't Signed |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |id={{ProQuest|283856405}}}}</ref> He missed most of the first month of the season and resided at an [[O'Hare Airport]] hotel while protracted talks continued.<ref name="EGHORTNS">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Sam |date=February 15, 1995 |title=Ex-CVS Great Howard On Rise To NBA Stardom |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/02/15/ex-cvs-great-howard-on-rise-to-nba-stardom/ |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Howard's agent [[David Falk]] said that one of the main problems was that the Bullets wanted Howard to sign for a lower average salary than number six selection [[Sharone Wright]].<ref name=CU/> The Bullets stuck to a 10-year, $30 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|30|1994|r=1}}}} million in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) offer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jackson, John |date=October 30, 1994 |title=English Breathes Sigh of Relief |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=21, sports section}}</ref> On November 17,<ref name="WGW">{{Cite news |last=Heisler, Mark |date=November 18, 1994 |title=Webber Gets Wish – Sent to Bullets For Gugliotta, 3 No. 1 Picks |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=146, sports section}}</ref> Howard signed what was believed to be a 12-year, $37.5 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|37.5|1994|r=1}}}} million) contract.<ref name=EGHORTNS/> Howard's contract, which ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' later said was an 11-year $36 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|36|1994|r=1}}}} million) deal, had an [[escape clause]].<ref name=CU/> Once he signed, he was reunited with Michigan teammate Webber as a member of the Bullets.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hanrahan, Brendan |date=January 3, 1995 |title=Bros In The Pros Ex-College Teammates Take On NBA Together |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-01-03/features/9501030015_1_juwan-howard-skyhook-michigan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708014853/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-01-03/features/9501030015_1_juwan-howard-skyhook-michigan |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |access-date=September 6, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Webber, who had also sat out training camp and the first eight games of the season,<ref name="WHBB">{{Cite news |last=Banks, Lacy J. |date=November 20, 1994 |title=Webber, Howard Bolster Bullets |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=13, sports section}}</ref> was traded from the {{NBA Year|1994|team=Golden State Warriors|title=Golden State Warriors}} to the Bullets on November 18 for [[Tom Gugliotta]] and three first-round draft choices.<ref name=WGW/>

After Webber joined the Bullets, many thought that the two former Fab Five members would bring success to the team, coached by Lynam. The Washington front line was expected to include Webber, Howard, and [[Kevin Duckworth]] and to have [[Gheorghe Mureșan]], a {{convert|7|ft|7|in|cm|adj=on}} [[Romania]]n center, coming off the bench.<ref name=WHBB/> Chapman, MacLean, Cheaney, [[Mitchell Butler]] and [[Scott Skiles]] were expected to provide solid perimeter play.<ref name=WHBB/> Experts projected the Bullets as contenders for the Eastern Conference title.<ref name=WHBB/> The Howard/Webber Bullets debut against the [[Boston Celtics]] established new Bullets [[Nielsen ratings|television ratings]] records for the [[Home Team Sports]] network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kent, Milton |date=November 25, 1994 |title=There's much TV to feast upon |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/11/25/theres-much-tv-to-feast-upon/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> However, the early season trade left the team in a state of confusion due to lack of familiarity, which resulted in communication difficulties on the court.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tanton, Bill |date=November 29, 1994 |title=Unfamiliarity leaves Bullets lost, for now |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/11/29/unfamiliarity-leaves-bullets-lost-for-now/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Howard eventually moved into the starting lineup.<ref name=EGHORTNS/> As a power forward, Howard posted impressive numbers after he became a regular starter.<ref name=EGHORTNS/> Howard participated in the February 11, 1995, [[1995 NBA All-Star Game|NBA All-Star]] weekend events as a member of the [[Rising Stars Challenge|Rookie Challenge]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 11, 1995 |title=All-Star Facts |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=94, sports section}}</ref> He earned second team All-Rookie honors at the end of the season.<ref name=JHBR/> That month, he became the second Bullet (since the award's inception in 1981) and first since [[Jeff Ruland]] in January 1982 to be named NBA Rookie of the Month.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee, Michael |date=February 26, 1995 |title=Bradley Beal wins Eastern Conference rookie of the month |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2013/01/03/bradley-beal-wins-eastern-conference-rookie-of-the-month/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> During the month he averaged 20.1 points, 8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 14 games, including his first two 30-point games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=March 2, 1995 |title=Howard top player in February |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/03/02/howard-top-player-in-february/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> The following month Howard suffered an ankle injury, missing a total of 10 games (all of which were Bullets losses).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=April 14, 1995 |title=Bullets drop 13th straight game |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/04/14/bullets-drop-13th-straight-game/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Over the course of the season, he averaged 17.0 points per game and posted 17 [[Double (basketball)#Double-double|double-double]]s in 65 games played (52 starts).<ref name=JHBR/><ref name="JH95GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 1994–95 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/1995/ |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> He totalled 30 points or more on three separate occasions.<ref name=JH95GL/>

At the end of his rookie season Howard finished his undergraduate degree, and [[#Graduation|graduated from the University of Michigan]], becoming the first NBA player to graduate after leaving college early.

====1995–96 season: All-Star selection====
In the preseason, the Bullets played the [[Detroit Pistons]] in an October game at the University of Michigan's [[Crisler Arena]], marking a homecoming for Howard. Webber was sidelined with a shoulder injury and missed the homecoming.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=October 26, 1995 |title=At Michigan, Howard savors a fabulous homecoming Bullets forward remains a big man on campus |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/10/26/at-michigan-howard-savors-a-fabulous-homecoming-bullets-forward-remains-a-big-man-on-campus/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Prior to the [[1995–96 NBA season|1995–96 season]], the Bullets were expected to be a contender with Webber, Howard, Muresan, [[Mark Price]], and [[Robert Pack (basketball)|Robert Pack]]. However, Webber, Price and Pack missed almost the entire year (65, 75 and 51 games, respectively) because of injuries.<ref name="CBFEOP">{{Cite news |last=Adande, J. A. |date=April 21, 1996 |title=Caps, Bullets Feel Each Other's Pain; Injuries Story of Their Seasons |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/22093080.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+21%2C+1996&last=J.A.+Adande&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&edition=&startpage=D.01&desc=Caps%2C+Bullets+Feel+Each+Other%27s+Pain%3B+Injuries+Story+of+Their+Seasons |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105194414/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/22093080.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+21%2C+1996&last=J.A.+Adande&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&edition=&startpage=D.01&desc=Caps%2C+Bullets+Feel+Each+Other%27s+Pain%3B+Injuries+Story+of+Their+Seasons |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |page=D01}}</ref>

Howard earned his only career [[NBA All-Star Game]] selection for the February 11, [[1996 NBA All-Star Game|1996 game]].<ref name=JHBR/> He concluded the season by scoring at least 20 points in his last 16 games.<ref name=JH96GL/> Howard became just the second player in Washington franchise history, after [[Bernard King]], to post back-to-back 40-point games (against [[1995–96 Boston Celtics season|Boston]] on April 17, 1996, with 40, and at [[1995–96 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto]] on April 19, 1996, with 42).<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 17, 1996 |title=Celtics vs. Bullets |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores96/96108/96108391.htm |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 19, 1996 |title=Bullets vs. Raptors |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores96/96110/96110397.htm |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> The 42 points proved to be his career high.<ref name="JHNBASTATS">{{Cite web |title=Players: Juwan Howard (Career Stats and Totals) |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/career_stats.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507112502/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/career_stats.html |archive-date=May 7, 2010 |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> His strong finish earned him an [[NBA Player of the Month]] award for April.<ref name=JHNBABIO/> In spite of the injuries to key teammates, 1995–96 was Howard's best season, statistically. During the season, he finished third in the NBA in minutes played, 6th in points scored and 10th in points per game (22.1).<ref name=JHBR/> He was the Bullets' leading scorer.<ref name="BaHdHwfa">{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Alan |date=August 9, 1996 |title=Bullets await Howard decision Heat will force arbitration: no date set for hearing |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/08/09/bullets-await-howard-decision-heat-will-force-arbitration-no-date-set-for-hearing/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Over the course of the season, he accumulated 22 double-doubles in 81 games, including 6 in his last 8 games.<ref name="JH96GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 1995–96 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/1996/ |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> At the end of the season, he was named to the [[All-NBA]] team.<ref name=JHBR/> In addition to his two 40-point performances, he posted 3 additional 30-point performances and scored at least 20 points in 56 of 81 games.<ref name=JH96GL/> Averaging 22.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists,<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> he helped the Bullets record 39 victories.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995–96 Washington Bullets Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1996.html |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> This was not enough for the Bullets to make the playoffs during their ninth consecutive losing season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Justice |first=Richard |date=April 21, 1996 |title=Howard to Bullets: 'It's My Turn' |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/22093004.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+21%2C+1996&last=Richard+Justice&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&edition=&startpage=D.10&desc=Howard+to+Bullets%3A+%60It%27s+My+Turn%27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105194433/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/22093004.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+21%2C+1996&last=Richard+Justice&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&edition=&startpage=D.10&desc=Howard+to+Bullets%3A+%60It%27s+My+Turn%27 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |page=D10}}</ref>

====1996–97 season: Free agency dispute====
After averaging 17 points per game as a rookie and more than 22 per game in his second season, Howard became a free agent when the Bullets made some salary cap transactions. The Bullets offered Howard an $89 million contract, but the [[Miami Heat]] outbid them with a seven-year deal estimated to be worth $98 to $101 million. However, according to the NBA league office, the Heat miscalculated their available salary under the [[salary cap]] by excluding performance bonuses for [[Tim Hardaway]] and [[P. J. Brown]] and failing to account for the impact of renegotiating [[Alonzo Mourning]]'s contract before coming to terms with Howard.<ref name="NRHD" /> The league rejected the contract on July 31 because Howard's $9 million for the [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]] placed the Heat over the cap.<ref name="NRHD">{{Cite news |date=August 1, 1996 |title=N.B.A. Rejects Howard Deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/01/sports/nba-rejects-howard-deal.html |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="HATRtB">{{Cite news |date=August 5, 1996 |title=Howard Attempting To Return to Bullets |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/05/sports/howard-attempting-to-return-to-bullets.html |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Howard then re-signed with the Bullets on August 5. He became the first player in NBA history to sign a contract worth more than $100 million;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard |url=http://athletes-celebrities.tseworld.com/sports/basketball/juwan-howard.php |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717111947/http://athletes-celebrities.tseworld.com/sports/basketball/juwan-howard.php |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Premiere Global Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weidie |first=Kyle |date=April 28, 2010 |title=Cardboard Bullets: Juwan Howard, the original $100 million man |url=http://www.truthaboutit.net/2010/04/cardboard-bullets-juwan-howard-the-original-100-million-man.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701202032/http://www.truthaboutit.net/2010/04/cardboard-bullets-juwan-howard-the-original-100-million-man.html |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Truth About It}}</ref> his seven-year contract was worth $105 million ({{Inflation|US|105000000|1996|fmt=eq|r=-6}}). The league ruled on August 5 that the Bullets could re-sign Howard after having renounced his rights on July 15 to free up cap room to sign [[Tracy Murray]] and [[Lorenzo Williams (basketball, born 1969)|Lorenzo Williams]] if they forfeited their [[1997 NBA draft]] first-round selection rights.<ref name="H2D2T2M">{{Cite news |last=Brown, Clifton |date=August 6, 1996 |title=Howard: 2 Deals, 2 Teams, $200 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/06/sports/howard-2-deals-2-teams-200-million.html |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The Bullets were not limited by the cap because they were re-signing their own player.<ref name="HATRtB" /> The Heat pursued legal remedy in Florida state courts, seeking acknowledgment of the prior validity and superiority of their earlier contract.<ref name="H2D2T2M" /> Although an arbitration case involving the two contracts that Howard had signed appeared likely, [[ESPN]] reported that the Heat dropped their legal pursuit of Howard.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 7, 1996 |title=Where Will Howard Play Next Season? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/07/sports/where-will-howard-play-next-season.html |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The league moved for federal jurisdiction although the case remained on the docket for [[New York University School of Law|New York University Law]] professor Daniel Collins to serve as arbitrator on three issues. Meanwhile, the Heat's contract was protected by a [[temporary injunction]] in Florida state court, which forbade any newer contract by Howard from abrogating his Miami contract.<ref name="BaHdHwfa" /> The Heat eventually dropped their case but the team, especially head coach [[Pat Riley]], continued to vehemently claim that their case of wrongdoing in the form of erroneous rulings by the league had been very solid.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Clifton |date=August 13, 1996 |title=An Angry Pat Riley Insists the Heat Broke No Salary Cap Rules |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/13/sports/an-angry-pat-riley-insists-the-heat-broke-no-salary-cap-rules.html |access-date=May 1, 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Clifton |date=August 15, 1996 |title=Hoop It Up: Free Agents, Costly Errors |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/15/sports/hoop-it-up-free-agents-costly-errors.html |access-date=May 1, 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> If the Heat had pursued arbitration and had been found guilty of violating the salary cap, the team could have been fined $5 million and Heat coach Riley could have been suspended for the season. By dropping their actions, the Heat avoided any possible penalties.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Clifton |date=August 11, 1996 |title=Howard Will Remain a Bullet, After All |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/11/sports/howard-will-remain-a-bullet-after-all.html |access-date=May 20, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

As a statement against gun violence, Bullets owner [[Abe Pollin]] sought to change the franchise's name.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Dan |date=February 2, 2010 |title=Why Abe Pollin went from Bullets to Wizards |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/02/why_abe_pollin_went_from_bulle.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112214724/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/02/why_abe_pollin_went_from_bulle.html |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2012 |work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> The Bullets became the {{NBA Year|1996|team=Washington Wizards|title=Washington Wizards}} after asking fans to vote on the name.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 23, 1996 |title=Sports People: Pro Basketball;Bullets Will Be Wizards |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/23/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-bullets-will-be-wizards.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Although before the [[1996–97 NBA season]] the Bullets/Wizards were expected to make the playoffs with Webber, Howard, and Strickland, there were rumors that Webber had difficulty adjusting to being a less important part of the offensive game plan in the presence of All-Star Howard.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=October 31, 1996 |title=Injuries a sore spot for Webber Limited past 2 years, forward eager to reap benefits of hard work |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/10/31/injuries-a-sore-spot-for-webber-limited-past-2-years-forward-eager-to-reap-benefits-of-hard-work/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Howard was plagued with [[shin splints]], causing him to miss several preseason games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=October 20, 1996 |title=Bullets' Murray takes step up on home turf Ex-UCLA star scores 22 to beat 76ers, 119–104 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/10/20/bullets-murray-takes-step-up-on-home-turf-ex-ucla-star-scores-22-to-beat-76ers-119-104/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> On November 11, 1996, Howard failed a sobriety test when he was caught [[speeding]] and was charged with [[driving while intoxicated]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=November 12, 1996 |title=Howard apologizes after DWI arrest Bullets All-Star due in court Dec. 6 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/11/12/howard-apologizes-after-dwi-arrest-bullets-all-star-due-in-court-dec-6/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> The following month he pleaded not guilty and committed to enter an alcohol rehabilitation and education program.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 1996 |title=Howard Pleads Not Guilty, Enters Alcohol Education Program |url=https://apnews.com/170f198c08cee08b4b1f7bf70617ebee |access-date=March 12, 2013 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> After Lynam coached the Bullets to a 22–24 record, he was fired and the Bullets hired [[Bernie Bickerstaff]], who posted a 22–13 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996–97 Washington Bullets Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1997.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Over the course of the 1996–97 season, Howard accumulated 24 double-doubles in 82 games,<ref name="JH97GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 1996–97 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/1997/ |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 19.1 points and 8.1 rebounds.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> Although Howard averaged over 19 points per game and played all 82 games,<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> he only scored 30 or more points twice during the regular season.<ref name=JH97GL/> The team finished its regular season with a 44–38 record but was swept in three games in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] first round by the [[1996–97 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]], who went on to win their second consecutive NBA championship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996–97 Washington Bullets Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1997.html |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> The [[1997 NBA Playoffs]] were Howard's only NBA playoff appearance in his six-plus seasons with the Washington franchise, and he averaged 18.7 points and 6 rebounds while playing 43 minutes per game.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> The playoff appearance marked the franchise's first since the [[1988 NBA playoffs|1988]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 26, 1997 |title=Bulls Strike First, 98–86: Jordan, Playoff Savvy Get 1–0 Lead On Bullets As Webber Struggles |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/04/26/bulls-strike-first-98-86-jordan-playoff-savvy-get-1-0-lead-on-bullets-as-webber-struggles/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref>

====1997–98 season====
The {{NBA Year|1997|team=Washington Wizards|title=Wizards}} relocated from the [[US Airways Arena (Washington, D.C.)|US Airways Arena]] to the [[MCI Center]] for the [[1997–98 NBA season|1997–98 season]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 30, 1997 |title=N.B.A: Last Night; Wizards' Farewell Party Is Ruined by the Bulls |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/30/sports/nba-last-night-wizards-farewell-party-is-ruined-by-the-bulls.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> during which Howard totaled 11 double-doubles in 64 games,<ref name="JH98GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 1997–98 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/1998/ |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> He scored between 20 and 29 points 31 times that season but failed to score 30 points in any game.<ref name=JH98GL/> Howard injured his ankle and was unable to play between February 5 and March 17.<ref name=JH98GL/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Armour |first=Terry |date=February 22, 1998 |title=Bulls 94, Wizards 88: The Wiz End Up As A Fizz: Clinton On Hand For Latest Defeat |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/02/22/bulls-94-wizards-88/ |access-date=May 21, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> During Bickerstaff's only full season as the Washington coach, the team posted a 42–40 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997–98 Washington Wizards Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/1998.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

====1998–99 season====
After the [[1998–99 NBA lockout]], the {{NBA Year|1998|team=Washington Wizards|title=Wizards}} posted an 18–32 record in the shortened season. The team started out 13–19 under Bickerstaff and was 5–13 under [[Jim Brovelli]] after Bickerstaff was fired.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1998–99 Washington Wizards Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/1999.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Howard was a vocal critic of Bickerstaff throughout his tenure, stating the coach was unable to make proper in-game adjustments.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Sam |date=April 8, 1999 |title=Bickerstaff Firing Shows Equality Thrives In Nba |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/04/08/bickerstaff-firing-shows-equality-thrives-in-nba/ |access-date=May 21, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Howard, who again had an ankle injury,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Armour |first=Terry |date=April 17, 1999 |title=Bulls End Misery (for Washington): Wizards Look Miraculously Healed |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/04/17/bulls-end-misery-for-washington/ |access-date=May 21, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> missed the last 14 games of the season. Over the course of the [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99 season]], he posted 11 double-doubles and two 15-rebound performances in 36 games,<ref name="JH99GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 1998–99 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/1999/ |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 18.9 points and 7.0 rebounds.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/>

====1999–00 season====
During the [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000 season]], Howard accumulated 10 double-doubles in 82 games,<ref name="JH00GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 1999–2000 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2000/ |access-date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 14.9 points and 8.1 rebounds.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> The {{NBA Year|1999|team=Washington Wizards|title=Wizards}} endured a 14–30 start under head coach [[Gar Heard]] before going 15–23 under Heard's replacement, [[Darrell Walker]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999–00 Washington Wizards Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2000.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> According to [[Sam Smith (sportswriter)|Sam Smith]] from the ''Chicago Tribune'', Howard had become unpopular and a bit of a disappointment by his sixth season in Washington.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Sam |date=January 7, 2000 |title=Big Money Turns Howard Into Big Loser |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/01/07/big-money-turns-howard-into-big-loser/ |access-date=May 22, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> He posted 30 points twice,<ref name=JH00GL/> including a season-high 36 in a fourth-quarter comeback to end a five-game losing streak in January.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2000 |title=Jordan Misses Wizards' Rally As Howard Helps Beat Pacers |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/01/22/jordan-misses-wizards-rally-as-howard-helps-beat-pacers/ |access-date=May 22, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> During the offseason, Howard's name surfaced in trade rumors that had him going to the New York Knicks in exchange for Ewing because the Wizards' management thought that the trade would better position the team for the 2001 free agent market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Broussard |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Broussard |date=August 31, 2009 |title=Pro Basketball; Ewing for Howard Is Latest Talk |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/31/sports/pro-basketball-ewing-for-howard-is-latest-talk.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Following the season, Walker was replaced by [[Leonard Hamilton]], becoming the team's sixth head coach since last making the [[NBA playoffs]] four years earlier.<ref name=WboHac/>

====2000–01 season====
Although it had been five years since his only All-Star appearance, Howard was the fourth-highest-paid player in the NBA during the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01 season]], behind [[Kevin Garnett]], [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and Mourning.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Sam |date=November 24, 2000 |title=The Nba's Top 20 Salaries |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/11/24/the-nbas-top-20-salaries/ |access-date=May 22, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Howard, along with Strickland and Richmond, were marquee names on the team under contract to earn at least $10 million.<ref name="WboHac">{{Cite news |last=Ewell, Christian |date=June 15, 2000 |title=Wizards bring on Hamilton as coach: Deal believed to be $10 million, 5 seasons Pro Basketball |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2000/06/15/wizards-bring-on-hamilton-as-coach/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kent, Milton |date=October 12, 2000 |title=Questions hang in air as Wizards exit camp: But nothing's new about No. 1: How to turn around loser? |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2000/10/12/questions-hang-in-air-as-wizards-exit-camp/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> On December 31, 2000, Howard, posted his career high of 15 made free throws in a game against the {{NBA Year|2000|team=Detroit Pistons|title=Detroit Pistons}}.<ref name="JHNBASTATS" />

===Dallas Mavericks (2001–2002)===
[[Michael Jordan]], who had become the Wizards' head of basketball operations the prior season, traded Howard, [[Obinna Ekezie]], and [[Calvin Booth]] to the {{NBA Year|2000|team=Dallas Mavericks|title=Dallas Mavericks}} for Laettner, [[Loy Vaught]], [[Etan Thomas]], [[Hubert Davis]], [[Courtney Alexander]] and $3 million on February 22, 2001, at the NBA trade deadline.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Sam |date=February 23, 2001 |title=Mutombo Deal Highlights Busy Day: Sixers Swap Ratliff, Kukoc To Hawks Bulls Remain Quiet |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/02/23/mutombo-deal-highlights-busy-day/ |access-date=May 22, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wise |first=Mike |date=February 23, 2001 |title=Pro Basketball; 76ers Hope Mutombo Will Deliver the Title |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/23/sports/pro-basketball-76ers-hope-mutombo-will-deliver-the-title.html |access-date=May 22, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Jordan's move was praised for freeing up salary cap space in advance of the NBA's first season with a luxury tax.<ref name="PBNTTTFaBT">{{Cite news |last=Wise, Mike |date=February 25, 2001 |title=Pro Basketball; Notebook; Trading Talent Today For a Better Tomorrow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/25/sports/pro-basketball-notebook-trading-talent-today-for-a-better-tomorrow.html |access-date=May 22, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The trade served the Mavericks by giving them a new offensive weapon and enabling them to match up defensively against the [[NBA Western Conference]] power forwards such as Wallace, [[Tim Duncan]], [[Karl Malone]] and Webber.<ref name=PBNTTTFaBT/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wise, Mike |date=February 23, 2001 |title=Pro Basketball; 76ers Hope Mutombo Will Deliver the Title |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/23/sports/pro-basketball-76ers-hope-mutombo-will-deliver-the-title.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Washington finished the year with a 19–63 record under coach Hamilton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000–01 Washington Wizards Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2001.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

During the 2000–01 season, the Mavericks finished 53–29 under coach [[Don Nelson]].<ref name="01MAVS">{{Cite web |title=2000–01 Dallas Mavericks Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/2001.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Howard provided the Mavericks with a back-to-the-basket player who moved into the starting power-forward position, enabling [[Dirk Nowitzki]] to play small forward and [[Shawn Bradley]] to play center.<ref name=PBMHHSoS/> During the season, Howard tallied 16 double-doubles and five 30-point performances in 81 games,<ref name="JH01GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2000–01 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2001/ |access-date=May 22, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 18.0 points and 7.1 rebounds.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> On a team with All-Star [[Michael Finley]] and future MVPs [[Steve Nash]] and Nowitzki, Howard was the highest-paid player.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caplan |first=Jeff |date=May 10, 2010 |title=50 for 10: New unis, new 'tude in 2001–02 |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4669018 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On March 20, Howard blocked five shots, his career high, against the {{NBA Year|2000|team=Portland Trail Blazers|title=Portland Trail Blazers}}.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> In the [[2001 NBA Playoffs]], the Mavericks advanced past the {{NBA Year|2000|team=Utah Jazz|title=Utah Jazz}} 3 games to 2 before losing to the {{NBA Year|2000|team=San Antonio Spurs|title=San Antonio Spurs}}, 4 games to 1.<ref name=01MAVS/> The Utah games marked the first time Howard played for a team that won an NBA playoff series.<ref name=JHBR/> In the first game of the series against the Spurs, Howard slammed Spurs guard [[Derek Anderson (basketball)|Derek Anderson]] to the floor while trying to block Anderson's layup late in the game.<ref name="AndersonInjury">{{Cite news |last=Koidin |first=Michelle |date=May 5, 2001 |title=Spurs roll to Game 1 victory, but it's costly |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nba/01playoffs/confsemis/2001-05-05-spurs-mavs-game-1.htm |access-date=July 14, 2010 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Anderson suffered a separated shoulder on the play, and Howard received a flagrant foul and was ejected.<ref name=AndersonInjury/> After the game, Howard, Spurs coach [[Gregg Popovich]], and Mavs owner [[Mark Cuban]] all said the foul was committed without malice or intent to injure Anderson.<ref name=AndersonInjury/> In the Mavericks' 10 playoff games, Howard totaled three double-doubles while averaging 13.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in 39.1 minutes.<ref name=JHBR/><ref name=JH01GL/>

During the [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]], he posted 17 double-doubles and three 30-point performances in 81 games (72 starts),<ref name="JH02GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2001–02 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2002/ |access-date=May 22, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds.<ref name=JHBR/> This was the first time since his rookie holdout season that he did not start every game he played in.<ref name=JHBR/> All reserve appearances occurred between November 21 and December 11, and eight of them were in consecutive games between November 21 and December 5.<ref name=JH02GL/> On January 31, he posted a career-high 16 rebounds against the {{NBA Year|2001|team=Houston Rockets|title=Houston Rockets}}.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/>

===Denver Nuggets (2002–2003)===
The Mavericks traded Howard with [[Donnell Harvey]], Hardaway and a 2002 first-round pick to the {{NBA Year|2001|team=Denver Nuggets|title=Denver Nuggets}} for [[Raef LaFrentz]], [[Avery Johnson]], Van Exel and [[Tariq Abdul-Wahad]] on February 21, 2002.<ref name=JHBR/><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2002 |title=Baseball Major League Baseball MLB: Named Bob ... |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-02-22/sports/0202220344_1_frontier-league-contract-international-league |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019171127/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-02-22/sports/0202220344_1_frontier-league-contract-international-league |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |access-date=May 24, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> At the time of the trade, Howard was considered the Mavericks' best low-post defender.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Sam |date=February 25, 2002 |title=Little 'D' in Big D is OK |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/02/25/little-d-in-big-d-is-ok/ |access-date=May 24, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> On March 25, 2002, he scored his 10,000th career point at [[Madison Square Garden]] against the [[2001–02 New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard-5 |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/career_statistics.html?nav=TextNavBar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910063823/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/career_statistics.html?nav=TextNavBar |archive-date=September 10, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2012 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> Howard started all 28 games that he played for the Nuggets.<ref name=JH02GL/> Don Nelson's Mavericks went to the second round of the [[2002 NBA Playoffs]] after trading Howard,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001–02 Dallas Mavericks Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/2002.html |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while the Nuggets failed to make the playoffs under coaches [[Dan Issel]] and [[Mike Evans (basketball)|Mike Evans]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001–02 Denver Nuggets Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2002.html |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> By the end of the season, Nuggets general manager Vandeweghe had cleared almost $20 million of salary cap space, leaving the team with few veterans and only Howard and [[Marcus Camby]] as well-known players. This made the team an undesirable coaching assignment for veteran coaches.<ref name=Accim/> In the offseason, the Nuggets replaced Evans with the relatively unknown [[Jeff Bzdelik]].<ref name="Accim">{{Cite web |last=Markus, Don |date=February 1, 2003 |title=At center court, invisible man: NBA: Jeff Bzdelik's coaching career has taken him from UMBC to the Denver Nuggets, but one thing hasn't changed: his obscurity. |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/02/01/at-center-court-invisible-man/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref>

During a preseason game, Howard attempted to punch [[Al Harrington]] and [[Jermaine O'Neal]], which earned him a suspension on October 25, 2002. As a result, Howard missed the {{NBA Year|2002|team=Denver Nuggets|title=Nuggets}}' first two games of the regular season, and this cost him $458,000 in salary.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 26, 2002 |title=Plus: Pro Basketball; Nuggets' Howard Suspended and Fined |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/26/sports/plus-pro-basketball-nuggets-howard-suspended-and-fined.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Howard first attempted to hit Harrington late in the fourth quarter on a night when Howard had missed nine of ten shots. When O'Neal intervened, the two pushed and shoved each other before Howard started punching again.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2002 |title=Juwan Howard suspended two games |url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/10/25/Juwan-Howard-suspended-two-games/UPI-57721035590392/ |access-date=June 12, 2012 |website=[[United Press International]]}}</ref> At around the same time, the University of Michigan basketball scandal investigation came to an end with many of the accomplishments of the Fab Five being rescinded through [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] sanctions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rhoden, William C. |date=November 8, 2002 |title=Sports of The Times; Forgetting The Fab Five Is Impossible |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/08/sports/sports-of-the-times-forgetting-the-fab-five-is-impossible.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Although many of the records of the Fab Five were erased, Howard's and teammate Rose's 1994 All-American recognitions were unaffected by the scandal.<ref name="MB07-8p13-21" /><ref name="MB07-8p154-5">{{Cite book |title=2007–08 Men's Basketball Media Guide |publisher=University of Michigan |year=2007 |pages=144–5}}</ref> During the [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03 regular season]], he accumulated 18 double-doubles, two 30-point performances, and three 15-rebound performances in 77 games,<ref name="JH03GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2002–03 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2003/ |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.<ref name=JHBR/> The 2002–03 Nuggets were 17–65 under Bzdelik.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002–03 Denver Nuggets Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2003.html |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Howard started all 77 games in which he played.<ref name=JH03GL/> The team struggled with three rookies in the starting lineup.

===Orlando Magic (2003–2004)===
Howard signed what was believed to be a five-year, $28 million contract as a free agent with the {{NBA Year|2003|team=Orlando Magic|title=Orlando Magic}} on July 16, 2003; he had been expected to sign with either Detroit or [[Minnesota Timberwolves|Minnesota]].<ref name=JHBR/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewer, Jerry |date=July 13, 2003 |title=Howard Set To Join Magic: Veteran Forward Juwan Howard Reached An Oral Agreement With Orlando For A Five-year Contract. |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2003/07/14/howard-set-to-join-magic/ |access-date=June 12, 2012 |website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref> During the season, teammate [[Tracy McGrady]] successfully defended his [[List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders|scoring championship]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tracy McGrady |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/tracy_mcgrady/bio.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419063942/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/tracy_mcgrady/bio.html |archive-date=April 19, 2013 |access-date=March 3, 2013 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> while Howard attempted to be a positive influence when the situation arose, such as when he attempted to stop McGrady from kicking the basketball into the stands twice in a row.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Branom, Mike |date=February 21, 2004 |title=Magic put a spell on Nuggets in 102–98 win |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/games/2004-02-21-magic-nuggets_x.htm |access-date=March 3, 2013 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> McGrady missed the last 10 games of the season with knee problems (ending his season on March 24),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tracy McGrady 2003–04 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgratr01/gamelog/2004/ |access-date=March 3, 2013 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> leading to Howard's best performances of the season: Howard had 33 points and 11 rebounds on April 2 against the {{NBA Year|2003|team=Atlanta Hawks|title=Atlanta Hawks}},<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2004 |title=Atlanta 95, Orlando 87 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?id=240402019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319181904/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?id=240402019 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |access-date=March 3, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> and he had 38 points on April 12 against the {{NBA Year|2003|team=Chicago Bulls|title=Chicago Bulls}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2004 |title=Fizer has 30 points, 20 boards in loss |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=240412004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002191320/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=240412004 |archive-date=October 2, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Over the course of the [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04 season]], he had 16 double-doubles and two 30-point performances in 81 games (77 starts),<ref name="JH04GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2003–04 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2004/ |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 17.2 points and 7.1 rebounds.<ref name=JHBR/> The team compiled a 21–61 record, the worst in the NBA, under coaches [[Doc Rivers]] and [[Johnny Davis (basketball, born 1955)|Johnny Davis]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003–04 Orlando Magic Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ORL/2004.html |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Broussard, Chris |date=June 30, 2004 |title=Pro Basketball: Notebook; McGrady Gets Wish In Trade To Rockets |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/30/sports/pro-basketball-notebook-mcgrady-gets-wish-in-trade-to-rockets.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

===Houston Rockets (2004–2007)===
[[File:20061210 Juwan Howard shooting over Antwan Jamison.jpg|thumb|alt=Howard is shooting a basketball over another Black athlete while an Asian athlete watches.|Howard shooting over [[Antawn Jamison]] as [[Yao Ming]] looks on]]

On June 29, 2004, Howard and Magic teammates McGrady, [[Tyronn Lue]] and [[Reece Gaines]] were part of a seven-player trade that sent {{NBA Year|2003|team=Houston Rockets|title=2003–04 Houston Rockets}} [[starting lineup|starting]] guards [[Steve Francis]] and [[Cuttino Mobley]], plus [[Kelvin Cato]], to the Magic.<ref name=JHBR/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Denton, John Denton |date=June 30, 2004 |title=McGrady-Francis swap official, finally |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2004-06-29-mcgrady-francis-deal_x.htm |access-date=May 24, 2010 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Howard became the regular starting power forward on December 2 and started for the rest of the season.<ref name=JH05GL/>

The 2004–05 Rockets were 51–31 under Van Gundy and lost in the first round of the [[2005 NBA playoffs]] to the {{NBA Year|2004|team=Dallas Mavericks|title=Dallas Mavericks}}, four games to three.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004–05 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2005.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Although the Rockets made the playoffs, Howard's season ended on March 14, when he left a game with a sprained [[medial collateral ligament]] (MCL) in his right knee.<ref name=JH05GL/><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 15, 2005 |title=Nugget OK with benching |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/03/15/nugget-ok-with-benching/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Initially, the injury was supposed to sideline Howard for four weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manfull, Megan |date=March 17, 2005 |title=Howard feels lost without Rockets |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Howard-feels-lost-without-Rockets-1946051.php |access-date=March 2, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> The injury coincided with a period in which he developed symptoms of [[viral myocarditis]], including heart [[palpitation]]s, mild chest pains and fever and was diagnosed with a viral infection in his heart. His limited physical activity impaired his MCL rehabilitation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 7, 2005 |title=Season over for Howard: Rockets forward shut down by viral infection in heart |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/04/07/season-over-for-howard/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Over the course of the [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05 season]], Howard achieved seven double-doubles in 61 games (47 starts),<ref name="JH05GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2004–05 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2005/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds.<ref name=JHBR/>

During the [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06 season]], Howard recorded 10 double-doubles and two 30-point performances in 80 games (all as a starter),<ref name="JH06GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2005–06 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2006/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds.<ref name=JHBR/> He played 31.7 minutes per game, and this was the last season in which he averaged 30 minutes per game; this was also the final season in which Howard started at least half of the games in which he played.<ref name=JHBR/> The {{NBA Year|2005|team=Houston Rockets|title=Rockets}} were 34–48 under Van Gundy and missed the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005–06 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2006.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Howard was suspended one game without pay in January for shoving the basketball into the face of Toronto guard [[Mike James (basketball, born 1975)|Mike James]] in an exchange that occurred after Howard fouled James on a drive to the basket.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2006 |title=NBA orders Howard to sit 1 game |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/01/08/nba-orders-howard-to-sit-1-game/ |access-date=June 10, 2012 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Howard posted a season-high 31 points on April 17, 2006, against the [[Denver Nuggets]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pells |first=Eddie |date=April 17, 2006 |title=Howard shines as Rockets edge Nuggets |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Howard-shines-as-Rockets-edge-Nuggets-1657775.php |access-date=March 2, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref>

In the [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]], Howard achieved nine double-doubles in 80 games played (37 starts),<ref name="JH07GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2006–07 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.<ref name="RctrgJfH">{{Cite web |last=Feigen, Jonathan |date=June 13, 2007 |title=Rockets close to re-acquiring guard James for Howard |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Rockets-close-to-re-acquiring-guard-James-for-1604258.php |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> His 26.5 minutes per game marked a new career low.<ref name="JHBR" /> Howard only started 38 games,<ref name="RctrgJfH" /> including 32 consecutive starts between December 26, 2006, and March 3, 2007.<ref name="JH07GL" />The 2006–07 Rockets were 52–30 under Van Gundy for the regular season.<ref name="HOU07" /> The Rockets entered the [[2007 NBA Playoffs]] with little experience; Howard was one of only three players on the team (along with [[Rafer Alston]] and [[Dikembe Mutombo]]) to have previously won any NBA playoff series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feigen, Jonathan |date=April 21, 2007 |title=Rockets open postseason hungry for series win |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Rockets-open-postseason-hungry-for-series-win-1844893.php |access-date=March 2, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Once the playoffs began, Howard served as a key reserve on the Rockets' short bench rotation that also included [[Luther Head]] and Mutombo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blinebury, Fran |last2=Jonathan Feigen |date=April 30, 2007 |title=Rockets Notes: Yao says team lacked intensity |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/ROCKETS-NOTES-Yao-says-team-lacked-intensity-1830685.php |access-date=March 2, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> The Rockets managed to split the first 4 games even though Head and Howard only combined to average 7.6 points,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feigen, Jonathan |date=April 30, 2007 |title=Rockets know they were outworked by Jazz |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Rockets-know-they-were-outworked-by-Jazz-1825653.php |access-date=March 2, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Feigen, Jonathan |date=May 1, 2007 |title=Notes: Rockets guard against looking ahead |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/NOTES-Rockets-guard-against-looking-ahead-1543958.php |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> including a combined pointless 0-for-10 game three.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solomon, Jerome |date=April 27, 2007 |title=Rockets reserves unable to give starters any support |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Rockets-reserves-unable-to-give-starters-any-1611859.php |access-date=March 2, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Although Howard had a productive game five with 12 points and 6 rebounds which contributed to a Rockets victory,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solomon, Jerome |date=May 1, 2007 |title=Howard, Head team up to outscore Jazz reserves |url=http://www.chron.com/default/article/Howard-Head-team-up-to-outscore-Jazz-reserves-1793701.php |access-date=March 2, 2013 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> the team lost in the first round of the 2007 playoffs to the {{NBA Year|2006|team=Utah Jazz|title=Utah Jazz}}, four games to three.<ref name="HOU07">{{Cite web |title=2006–07 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2007.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> In the playoffs, reserve Howard averaged 5.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 22.4 minutes.<ref name="JHBR" /><ref name="JH07GL" />

===Return to Dallas (2007–2008)===
On June 14, 2007, Howard was traded to the [[2007–08 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota Timberwolves]] for [[Mike James (basketball, born 1975)|Mike James]] and [[Justin Reed]].<ref name="rocketstrade">{{Cite web |last=Stein, Mark |date=June 14, 2007 |title=Wolves, Rockets agree to Howard-James trade |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2903593 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> According to ESPN, he regretted not choosing Minnesota the last time he had been a free agent and was looking forward to playing with Garnett.<ref name="noyouth">{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2007 |title=Wolves get younger with buyout of Howard's contract |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3086024 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Soon after Howard signed with Minnesota, the team traded Garnett to the [[2007–08 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kevin Garnett |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/garneke01.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Howard made it clear he was not interested in being on a team in Minnesota that was focused on developing young talent and consequently requested a trade once Garnett was no longer a member of the team.<ref name="noyouth" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zgoda, Jerry |date=September 28, 2007 |title=Juwan Howard: A reluctant – but respectful – Wolf: Juwan Howard would like to be traded. But if the Wolves can't make a deal, the veteran will be a mentor to his young teammates |url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/11695546.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013124622/http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/11695546.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2010 |website=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref> Howard still had $6.88 million and $7.38 million in salary owed to him over the next two seasons, which made him difficult to trade.<ref name="noyouth" /> Timberwolves owner [[Glen Taylor]] noted that the team would attempt to accommodate his wishes but acknowledged that doing so would be difficult.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 23, 2007 |title=Wolves Trying To Trade Howard |work=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]] |page=D2}}</ref> On October 29, 2007, the Timberwolves [[NBA Salary Cap#Waivers|waived]] Howard after agreeing to a contractual buyout agreement<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2007 |title=Timberwolves waive F Howard after reaching buyout |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=txtimberwolveshoward&prov=st&type=lgns |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030074044/https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=txtimberwolveshoward&prov=st&type=lgns |archive-date=October 30, 2007 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> worth $10 million spread over four years instead of the roughly $14.25 million ($6.88 million plus $7.38 million) that Minnesota would otherwise have owed him.<ref name="FkwW">{{Cite web |last=Youngblood, Kent |date=October 30, 2007 |title=Foye's knee worries Wolves |url=http://www.startribune.com/511/story/1516287.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203152252/http://www.startribune.com/511/story/1516287.html |archive-date=December 3, 2008 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |website=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref>

[[File:20080125 Juwan Howard signing autographs.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Howard is signing autographs in the court bleachers.|Howard signing autographs as a [[Dallas Maverick]]]]

Howard agreed to terms with the [[2007–08 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]] on October 30, 2007, but was not able to officially sign until the next day, when he cleared waivers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2007 |title=Mavs agree to terms with free-agent forward Juwan Howard |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3087419 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2007 |title=NBA Notes |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4452643 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]] |page=4, sports section}}</ref> Terms of the deal were not disclosed publicly. During the [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 season]], he played in 50 games and made no starts,<ref name="JH08GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2007–08 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds.<ref name=JHBR/> In his limited role he never played more than 18 minutes and had season-highs of seven rebounds and six points.<ref name=JH08GL/> The 2007–08 Mavericks were 51–31 under coach Johnson and lost in the first round of the [[2008 NBA Playoffs]] to the [[2007–08 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans Hornets]] four games to one.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007–08 Dallas Mavericks Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/2008.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> In the playoffs, Howard only appeared for a total of 11 minutes in three games.<ref name=JHBR/> This was the first season in Howard's career in which he did not start in a single game.<ref name=JHBR/>

===Return to Denver (2008)===
On October 3, 2008,<ref name=JHBR/> Howard rejoined the [[2008–09 Denver Nuggets season|Denver Nuggets]], but was later released when the Nuggets made a three-for-one trade of [[Allen Iverson]] for [[Chauncey Billups]], [[Antonio McDyess]] and [[Cheikh Samb]] on November 3 that put them over the 15-man roster size limit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 4, 2008 |title=Transactions |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/11/04/transactions-93/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Before the trade, Howard had played in three games during the [[2008–09 NBA season|2008–09 season]].

===Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2009)===
On December 12, 2008, he was signed by the [[2008–09 Charlotte Bobcats season|Charlotte Bobcats]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bobcats Sign Juwan Howard |url=http://www.nba.com/bobcats/release_howard_signed_081212.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214155251/http://www.nba.com/bobcats/release_howard_signed_081212.html |archive-date=December 14, 2008 |access-date=December 12, 2008 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> During the 2008–09 season, he played in 42 games, making two starts;<ref name="JH09GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2008–09 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2009/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Howard averaged 4.1 points and 1.8 rebounds.<ref name=JHBR/> In his reserve role, he played more than 20 minutes five times, including four straight appearances from January 28 to February 8, and had season-highs of five rebounds and 14 points. He posted 10 or more points five times.<ref name=JH09GL/> Howard played extended minutes on January 28, the night after [[Gerald Wallace]] suffered a left-lung collapse and a non-displaced fracture of the fifth rib from a [[flagrant foul]] by [[Andrew Bynum]]; in 24 minutes of action, he scored 9 points.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 28, 2009 |title=Aldridge helps Blazers win third straight contest |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=290128022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805051712/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=290128022 |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref name="WiicwB">{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2009 |title=Wallace injured in collision with Bynum |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3866849 |access-date=June 19, 2012 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 28, 2009 |title=Bobcats 74 (19–27, 6–14 away); Trail Blazers 88 (28–17, 17–5 home) |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290128022 |access-date=June 19, 2012 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> During Howard's streak of 20-minute appearances,<ref name="JH09GL" /> he sat out one intervening game on February 6 with a toe injury.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2009 |title=Hawks rally from 17-point deficit to drop slumping Bobcats |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=290206030 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206015804/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=290206030 |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On February 8, in only his second start as a Bobcat, he played a season-high 30 minutes, 39 seconds and posted a season-high 14 points.<ref name=JH09GL/> The subsequent night, Howard was out of the lineup again with a toe injury.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2009 |title=Radmanovic hits 3 late 3s in debut as Bobcats end 5-game slide |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=290209030 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206181932/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=290209030 |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> The 2008–09 Bobcats were 35–47 under coach [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008–09 Charlotte Bobcats Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHA/2009.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref>

===Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2010)===
[[File:20100425 Juwan Howard against Amar'e Stoudemire.jpg|thumb|alt=Howard is holding a basketball while a defender, with his back to the viewer, plays defense.|Howard as a [[Portland Trail Blazers|Portland Trail Blazer]] against [[Amar'e Stoudemire]]]]

On September 17, 2009, Howard signed a one-year contract with the [[2009–10 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trail Blazers sign Juwan Howard to one-year deal |url=http://www.nba.com/2009/news/09/17/blazers.howard.ap/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922170541/http://www.nba.com/2009/news/09/17/blazers.howard.ap/index.html |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |access-date=September 17, 2009 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Trail Blazers Sign Juwan Howard |date=September 17, 2009 |publisher=Portland Trail Blazers |url=http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trail_blazers_sign_juwan_howar_2009_09_17.html |access-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref> On December 22, center [[Joel Przybilla]] injured his knee in the first quarter, allowing Howard to play additional minutes,<ref name="TBrbRAtoMiDr">{{Cite web |date=December 22, 2009 |title=Trail Blazers rally behind Roy, Aldridge to overcome Mavs in Dirk's return |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=291222006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825170653/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=291222006 |archive-date=August 25, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> which allowed Howard his first double-double since April 6, 2007.<ref name=TBrbRAtoMiDr/> He had his other double-double of the 2009–10 season the next night when he made his first start of the season.<ref name=JH08GL/> All of Howard's performances with 10 rebounds or more occurred between December 22 and February 3. December 23 marked the start of 14 consecutive starting appearances and 24 starts in 26 appearances (ending on February 16) for him.<ref name=JH10GL/> Having lost Przybilla and [[Greg Oden]] for the season, Portland acquired Camby from the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] for [[Steve Blake]] and [[Travis Outlaw]] on February 17 prior to the trade deadline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2010 |title=Clippers get two players for Camby |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4918893 |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> During the [[2009–10 NBA season|2009–10 season]], he accumulated two double-doubles, played in 73 games, and made 27 starts,<ref name="JH10GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2009–10 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> while averaging 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds.<ref name=JHNBASTATS/> The 2009–10 Trail Blazers were 50–32 under coach [[Nate McMillan]] and lost in the first round of the [[2010 NBA Playoffs]] to the [[2009–10 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]], four games to two.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2009–10 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2010.html |access-date=May 25, 2010 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> Howard appeared in all six games, averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14.5 minutes.<ref name=JHBR/> He played the most minutes (17:51) in game 4,<ref name=JH10GL/> when he added 8 points and 7 rebounds to help even the series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2010 |title=Suns 87 (2–2, 1–1 away); Trail Blazers 96 (2–2, 1–1 home) |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=300424022 |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

===Miami Heat (2010–2013)===
[[File:JuwanHowardMiami.jpg|thumb|upright|Howard with the Heat in 2011]]

On July 20, 2010, Howard came to terms for the [[2010–11 NBA season]] with the [[2010–11 Miami Heat season|Miami Heat]] on a one-year contract for the veteran's minimum salary, which was $1,352,181.<ref name=JHBR/><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2010 |title=Howard signs with Heat – again |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5396136 |access-date=July 21, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Heat Signs Juwan Howard |url=http://www.nba.com/heat/roster/heat_signs_juwan_howard_2010_07_20.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723102918/http://www.nba.com/heat/roster/heat_signs_juwan_howard_2010_07_20.html |archive-date=July 23, 2010 |access-date=July 20, 2010 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> Although he was only paid the minimum by the Heat, he was in the final year of his four-year buyout from the Timberwolves.<ref name=FkwW/> By joining the Heat, Howard joined a team that by the time of the [[2011 NBA playoffs]], included former champion [[Dwyane Wade]] as well as a group of players such as [[LeBron James]] and [[Chris Bosh]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paine |first=Neil |date=June 2, 2011 |title=Keeping Score: They Won a Lot of Games, and Soon a Title |url=http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/keeping-score-they-won-a-lot-of-games-and-soon-a-title/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In March, he was featured in the documentary film ''[[The Fab Five (film)|The Fab Five]]'', which was about his time as a Wolverine, that reignited controversy and reinvigorated the [[Duke–Michigan basketball rivalry]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerstner |first=Joanne C. |date=March 14, 2011 |title=Documentary Rekindles 'Fab Five' Memories |url=http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/documentary-rekindles-fab-five-memories/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> For the season, Howard played 57 games for the [[2010–11 Miami Heat season|2010–11 Heat]], all as a reserve. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds with season highs of 18 points and 7 rebounds.<ref name="JH11GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2010–11 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=June 20, 2012 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Heat reached the NBA Finals, losing to the Dallas Mavericks four games to two.<ref name="MVP">{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2011 |title=Gutty performance earns Nowitzki Finals MVP honors |url=http://www.nba.com/2011/news/06/12/nowitzki-finals-mvp.ap/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616090307/http://www.nba.com/2011/news/06/12/nowitzki-finals-mvp.ap/index.html |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |access-date=June 13, 2011 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref><ref name="Washington Post">{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Michael |date=June 12, 2011 |title=NBA Finals: Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks complete stunning run to the championship |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/nba-finals-dirk-nowitzki-and-the-dallas-mavericks-complete-stunning-run-to-the-championship/2011/06/12/AGrwtPSH_story.html |access-date=June 13, 2011 |work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Howard averaged 1.5 points and .9 rebounds per game during the postseason.<ref name=JHBR/>

On December 10, 2011, Howard re-signed with the Heat for the same veteran's minimum salary as the year before.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Windhorst |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Windhorst |date=December 10, 2011 |title=The Heat's big void lingers, front and center |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/10494 |access-date=December 12, 2011 |work=Espn.com |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spears |first=Marc J. |date=December 9, 2011 |title=@SpearsNBAYahoo status |url=https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/145244461851619328 |access-date=December 12, 2011 |publisher=[[Twitter]]}}</ref> Howard appeared in 28 regular season games as a reserve with limited minutes.<ref name="JH12GL">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard 2011–12 Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howarju01/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=June 20, 2012 |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref> At age 39, Howard was the third-oldest active player in the league during the [[2011–12 NBA season]], behind [[Kurt Thomas (basketball)|Kurt Thomas]] and [[Grant Hill]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=February 16, 2012 |title=Six-Pack: Vince Carter moves up scoring list |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4685166 |access-date=March 1, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On June 21, 2012, Howard became the first and only member of the Fab Five to win an NBA championship, as a role player on the [[2011–12 Miami Heat season|2011–12 Miami Heat]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Daniel |date=June 23, 2012 |title=Juwan Howard is first member of Michigan's "Fab Five" to win NBA title |url=http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/23/juwan-howard-is-first-member-of-michigans-fab-five-to-win-nba-title/ |access-date=June 24, 2012 |publisher=[[NBC Sports]]}}</ref> Following the season, Howard became an unrestricted free agent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Barry |date=July 1, 2012 |title=Ronny Turiaf opts out of Miami Heat contract, but Dexter Pittman will be retained |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/01/2875839/turiaf-opts-out-of-heat-contract.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref> At the 20th annual [[ESPY Awards]], Howard and Heat teammate [[Mike Miller (basketball, born 1980)|Mike Miller]] took to the stage to accept the award for Team of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cote |first=Greg |date=July 15, 2012 |title=Let's just say U.S. won't win gold for its uniforms |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/15/2895813_p2/lets-just-say-us-wont-win-gold.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref>

[[File:Miami Heat Championship Parade 2012 2.jpg|thumb|left|Howard holding the [[Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy|Larry O'Brien Trophy]] at the Heat's 2012 championship parade]]

On March 2, 2013, Howard signed a 10-day contract with the [[2012–13 Miami Heat season|2012–13 Miami Heat]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farmer |first=Michael |date=March 2, 2013 |title=HEAT Signs Juwan Howard |url=https://www.nba.com/heat/roster/heat-signs-juwan-howard |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2, 2013 |title=Veteran Howard returns to Heat on 10-day contract |url=http://www.nba.com/2013/news/03/02/heat-sign-howard.ap/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303130403/http://www.nba.com/2013/news/03/02/heat-sign-howard.ap/index.html |archive-date=March 3, 2013 |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> On March 12, 2013, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Heat,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herrera |first=Irene |date=March 12, 2013 |title=HEAT Signs Juwan Howard to Second 10-day Contract |url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-signs-juwan-howard-second-10-day-contract |access-date=March 12, 2013 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> and on March 22, 2013, he was signed for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moorhead |first=Couper |date=March 22, 2013 |title=HEAT Signs Juwan Howard |url=https://www.nba.com/heat/heat-signs-juwan-howard |access-date=March 22, 2013 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> He made his first appearance of the season for the Heat on March 24 against the [[2012–13 Charlotte Bobcats season|Charlotte Bobcats]] tallying two points, a rebound and two assists in three minutes of play as the Heat made their way to their 26th consecutive victory.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2013 |title=Dwyane Wade-less Heat throttle Bobcats, run streak to 26 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278761 |access-date=March 26, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2013 |title=Bobcats 77 (16–54, 6–29 away); Heat 109 (55–14, 32–3 home) |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400278761 |access-date=March 26, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> On April 15, he made his first start since April 14, 2010, as the Heat defeated the [[2012–13 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]] without James, Wade, Bosh, Battier, Chalmers and [[Udonis Haslem]] in the penultimate game of the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2013 |title=Heat hold off Cavs as LeBron James sits |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278924 |access-date=April 16, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Howard's April 17 start in the season finale against the [[2012–13 Orlando Magic season|Orlando Magic]] marked Howard's 900th career start.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2013 |title=Heat close regular season with win against NBA-worst Magic |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278940 |access-date=April 19, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> With the retirement of [[Grant Hill]] on June 1, 2013, Howard became the oldest active player in the NBA at age 40.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pincus |first=Eric |date=June 3, 2013 |title=Steve Nash the NBA's oldest player under contract for next season |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-steve-nash-oldest-player-under-contract-next-season-20130603,0,941769.story |access-date=June 11, 2013 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> During the playoffs, Howard did not play.<ref name="LJgastHtahoG5">{{Cite magazine |last=Golliver |first=Ben |date=May 31, 2013 |title=LeBron James gives animated speech to Heat teammates at halftime of Game 5 |url=http://nba.si.com/2013/05/30/lebron-james-halftime-speech-miami-heat-indiana-pacers/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610015215/http://nba.si.com/2013/05/30/lebron-james-halftime-speech-miami-heat-indiana-pacers/ |archive-date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2013 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2013 |title=Juwan Howard hits halfcourt shot with back to basket |url=http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/nba/miami-heat/story/Juwan-Howard-hits-halfcourt-shot-with-ba?blockID=913759&feedID=3720 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624224600/http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/nba/miami-heat/story/Juwan-Howard-hits-halfcourt-shot-with-ba?blockID=913759&feedID=3720 |archive-date=June 24, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2013 |website=[[FOX Sports]]}}</ref>

==Player profile==
[[File:Juwan Howard Heat.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Howard diving for a loose ball in 2010]]

In college, Howard was regarded as one of the best defensive big men in the country.<ref name="HDICT">{{Cite news |last=Bickley |first=Dan |date=April 5, 1993 |title=Howard's Dream Is Coming True |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=99}}</ref> According to Mariotti, he was also regarded as a "rock-solid" power forward who provided rebounds and defense, in contrast to his flamboyant teammate Webber.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mariotti |first=Jay |date=November 11, 1994 |title=Should Muscle-less Bulls Eye Howard or Webber? |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=143 |quote=If Howard is considered a rock-solid, rebounds-and-defense power forward, Webber is the total showtime package, the transcendent franchise player.}}</ref> Fisher referred to Howard as his "[[Rock of Gibraltar]]".<ref name=HKMAH3P1RRT/> His consistency was described by ''Chicago Tribune'' journalist Skip Myslenski as Michigan's "ballast, steadying them on those many occasions when they wavered. And their savior, rescuing them from their many follies".<ref name=HKMAH3P1RRT/>

After the 1994 draft, NBA analyst [[Doug Collins (basketball)|Doug Collins]] described Howard as a player who could "play with his back to the basket" and "shoot from about 16 feet outside" and who played "with a lot of energy and emotion".<ref name="CTHRD">{{Cite web |last=Sakamoto |first=Bob |date=June 30, 1994 |title=Chicagoans Thomas, Howard Realize Dreams |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/06/30/chicagoans-thomas-howard-realize-dreams/ |access-date=September 12, 2010 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> The Bullets' [[general manager]], [[John Nash (basketball)|John Nash]], who was disappointed that [[Jason Kidd]] was no longer available at the fifth pick of the draft,<ref name=CU/> told Jerry Bembry of ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' that Howard was "as fundamentally sound as any player in the draft" and that he "[had] a discipline about his game and [used] a high level of skill and technique". Bembry said, "Not only can Howard post up, he passes effectively and is able to hit a jumper up to 17 feet", adding that he also was "an excellent position defender".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=June 30, 1994 |title=Bullets say Howard is good deal |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/06/30/bullets-say-howard-is-good-deal/ |access-date=September 12, 2010 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Later Bembry noted that he was a power forward who was able to play center, adding that at Michigan he was "most effective playing with his back to the basket" but could also pass effectively and hit medium-range [[Jump shot (basketball)|jumpers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=July 6, 1994 |title=Howard's attitude wins over Bullets |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/07/06/howards-attitude-wins-over-bullets/ |access-date=September 12, 2010 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> The Bullets' head coach, [[Jim Lynam]], described Howard as a "complete player" and noted, "[H]e can defend you and he can score over you".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=July 1, 1994 |title=Bullets give defense 1–2 punch |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/07/01/bullets-give-defense-1-2-punch/ |access-date=September 12, 2010 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Nash said that "the things that impressed me most about him were his character, his intelligence and his insight. He's a leader type."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackman |first=Phil |date=June 30, 1994 |title=Underclass names change, but NBA teams remain predictably ecstatic |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/06/30/underclass-names-change-but-nba-teams-remain-predictably-ecstatic/ |access-date=September 12, 2010 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref>

When he first became a [[free agent]] in 1996, Howard was described as versatile enough to play all three front-line positions ([[small forward]], power forward and center), and [[Michael Jordan]] praised his "game, work ethic and character".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=John |date=June 25, 1996 |title=The key to Bulls' future could be Juwan Howard |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=96}}</ref> As a Dallas player in 2000–01, he was still regarded as a versatile offensive player who could "take advantage of smaller defenders in the paint and then stretch his bigger defenders outside" in addition to being a solid rebounder.<ref name="PBMHHSoS">{{Cite news |last=Robbins |first=Liz |date=March 14, 2001 |title=Pro Basketball; Mavericks' Howard Has Smile of Success |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/14/sports/pro-basketball-mavericks-howard-has-smile-of-success.html |access-date=May 22, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> By 2001, Lacy J. Banks from the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' regarded him as a high-priced, under-achieving player,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banks |first=Lacy J. |date=November 18, 2001 |title=The Man Who Drafted Jordan might finally get his due |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=118}}</ref> but in 2002, Banks described him as a solid veteran at the four (power forward position).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banks |first=Lacy J. |date=June 23, 2002 |title=Dunleavy heads talented group of small forwards |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=114}}</ref> In the NBA, Howard developed a respected inside post-up game and a reputation as a veteran leader, according to [[Kiki Vandeweghe]], the general manager of the [[Denver Nuggets]], Howard's team in 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banks |first=Lacy J. |date=May 18, 2003 |title=Van Exel reserves best for playoffs |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |page=105, sports section}}</ref>

When he signed with the Heat in 2010, Howard was lauded for his ability to play the power forward and center positions and for his professionalism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2010 |title=HEAT Signs Juwan Howard |url=http://www.nba.com/heat/roster/heat_signs_juwan_howard_2010_07_20.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723102918/http://www.nba.com/heat/roster/heat_signs_juwan_howard_2010_07_20.html |archive-date=July 23, 2010 |access-date=September 12, 2012 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref> Howard also added frontcourt toughness.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Thomsen |first=Ian |date=July 21, 2010 |title=Sneak peek at East contenders |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/ian_thomsen/07/21/east.contenders/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723170136/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/ian_thomsen/07/21/east.contenders/ |archive-date=July 23, 2010 |access-date=September 12, 2012 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> As an elder statesman with the Heat, he was regarded as a future NBA coach or general manager.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neal |first=David J. |date=June 27, 2012 |title=Miami Heat's Juwan Howard finally captures a title for the Michigan Fab Five |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/27/2868195/miami-heats-juwan-howard-finally.html |access-date=September 12, 2012 |website=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref>

==Coaching career==

===Miami Heat (2013–2019)===
On September 28, 2013, the Heat announced a reshuffling of their organization. The reshuffling included the announcement that Howard would remain with the Heat, moving officially into an assistant coaching role. The assistant coaching position was available after both [[Chad Kammerer]] and [[Keith Askins]] were moved from coaching to scouting positions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moorhead |first=Couper |date=September 28, 2013 |title=HEAT Announce Front Office Promotions |url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news_recap/heat-announce-front-office-promotions |access-date=September 28, 2013 |website=[[NBA.com]]}}</ref> This effectively indicated Howard's retirement as a basketball player, as league regulations prohibit one from holding a coaching position while being an active player.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 28, 2013 |title=Juwan Howard hired as Heat assistant coach |url=http://nba.si.com/2013/09/28/juwan-howard-miami-heat-assistant-coach-michigan-fab-five/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001065658/http://nba.si.com/2013/09/28/juwan-howard-miami-heat-assistant-coach-michigan-fab-five/ |archive-date=October 1, 2013 |access-date=September 30, 2013 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> Howard spent six seasons with the Heat as an assistant coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wojnarowsski |first=Adrian |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Juwan Howard joining Nets as assistant coach, sources say |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40031279/juwan-howard-joining-nets-assistant-coach-sources-say |access-date=May 19, 2024 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> In his first year, the Heat reached the 2014 NBA Finals in the final year of the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh trio, where they lost to the Spurs in 5 games. The Heat went on to make two more playoff appearances in Howard's remaining time as an assistant coach in Miami. 

Howard coached a number of All-Stars while with the Heat, including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Shandel |title=Heat lose a key bridge between players and coaching staff with Juwan Howard leaving for Michigan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/990176/2019/05/22/heat-lose-a-key-bridge-between-players-and-coaching-staff-with-juwan-howard-leaving-for-michigan/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |work=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref>

===Michigan (2019–2024)===
[[File:20200212 Adrien Nunez-Juwan Howard.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=See caption|Howard (standing) on the sidelines for Michigan at [[Welsh–Ryan Arena]] in February 2020]]

On May 22, 2019, Howard was named the head coach of the [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball]] team, signing a five-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard Named Michigan Head Coach |url=http://bigten.org/news/2019/5/30/mens-basketball-juwan-howard-named-michigan-head-coach.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606072526/https://bigten.org/news/2019/5/30/mens-basketball-juwan-howard-named-michigan-head-coach.aspx |archive-date=June 6, 2019 |access-date=2019-06-06 |website=[[Big Ten Conference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wywrot |first=Tom |date=May 22, 2019 |title=Former Michigan Great Juwan Howard Returns as Men's Basketball Coach |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2019/5/22/former-michigan-great-juwan-howard-returns-as-mens-basketball-coach.aspx |access-date=May 22, 2019 |website=MGoBlue.com |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> In [[2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|2021]], after guiding the Wolverines to a 14–3 Big Ten record and their first Big Ten regular season title in seven years, Howard was named the [[Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year|Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year]], [[Sporting News Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Coach of the Year]], and [[Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year]], and awarded the [[Henry Iba Award]] by the [[USBWA]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2021 |title=2020–21 Big Ten Men's Basketball Postseason Honors Announced |url=https://bigten.org/news/2021/3/9/general-2020-21-big-ten-mens-basketball-postseason-honors-announced.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309180252/https://bigten.org/news/2021/3/9/general-2020-21-big-ten-mens-basketball-postseason-honors-announced.aspx |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |website=BigTen.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wywrot |first=Tom |date=March 9, 2021 |title=Dickinson, Howard Headline Big Ten Awards as Top Freshman, Coach |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/3/9/mens-basketball-dickinson-howard-headline-big-ten-awards-as-top-freshman-coach.aspx |access-date=March 9, 2021 |website=MGoBlue.com |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DeCourcy |first=Mike |date=March 9, 2021 |title=Michigan's Juwan Howard is Sporting News' 2020–21 Coach of the Year |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/juwan-howard-michigan-coach-of-the-year/1tb73ththc6h41piqjya53s4y5 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |website=sportingnews.com |publisher=[[Sporting News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wywrot |first=Tom |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Howard Tabbed as Henry Iba National Coach of the Year by USBWA |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/3/19/mens-basketball-howard-tabbed-as-henry-iba-national-coach-of-the-year-by-usbwa.aspx |access-date=March 19, 2021 |website=MGoBlue.com |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2021 |title=Michigan's Juwan Howard named AP college coach of the year |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31178763 |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=ESPN}}</ref> Michigan was named a No. 1 seed in the [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]], making Howard the first person in NCAA history to enter the tournament as a No. 1 seed as both a player and a coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Breiler |first=Christopher |date=March 15, 2021 |title=Michigan's Road To The Championship Revealed |url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/basketball/michigan-basketball-juwan-howard-ncaa-tournament-big-ten-basketball |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=si.com}}</ref> On November 16, 2021, Michigan signed Howard to a five-year contract extension through the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wywrot |first=Tom |date=November 16, 2021 |title=Manuel Announces Contract Extension for Men's Basketball Head Coach Juwan Howard |url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/11/16/manuel-announces-contract-extension-for-mens-basketball-head-coach-juwan-howard.aspx |access-date=November 16, 2021 |website=MGoBlue.com |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref>

On February 20, 2022, an altercation involving Howard took place following a game between [[2021–22 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] and the [[2021–22 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin Badgers]] at the [[Kohl Center]] where Howard hit Wisconsin's assistant coach in the face. The following day, Howard was suspended for the remainder of Michigan's regular season and fined $40,000 for being in "clear violation of the Big Ten Conference's Sportsmanship Policy".<ref>[https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2022/02/21/juwan-howard-suspended-michigan-basketball-wisconsin-fight/6876456001/ Michigan basketball's Juwan Howard suspended the rest of regular season; two players banned one game] [[Detroit Free Press]]</ref> Howard was allowed to return for the Big Ten Tournament and later the [[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], where the Wolverines reached the Sweet Sixteen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrew Kahn {{!}} akahn1@mlive. com |date=2022-03-20 |title=Michigan basketball stuns Tennessee to reach NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2022/03/michigan-basketball-stuns-tennessee-to-reach-ncaa-tournaments-sweet-16.html |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=mlive |language=en}}</ref> On March 15, 2024, following an 8–24	season and two successive seasons without a tournament appearance, Michigan announced they were parting ways with Howard after five years of coaching.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}}

===Brooklyn Nets (2024-present)===
After serving 5 years as the coach of [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]], Howard joined the [[Brooklyn Nets]] as an assistant coach for [[Jordi Fernández]] on April 26, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adrian Wojnarowski |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Juwan Howard joining Nets as assistant coach, sources say |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40031279/juwan-howard-joining-nets-assistant-coach-sources-say |access-date=April 29, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Juwan Howard1-crop.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=Howard playing for the Houston Rockets|Howard in 2006]]

Howard has six children. One of Howard's children, son Juwan Howard Jr. (born February 5, 1992),<ref name="JHJWMU">{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard Jr. |url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204997509 |access-date=October 6, 2010 |publisher=[[Western Michigan University]]}}</ref> is the child of Markita Blyden, who was runner-up for Michigan's Miss Basketball when she and her twin sister led Detroit's [[Murray–Wright High School]] to the 1990 Class A state championship game. Howard Jr. finished his senior season at Detroit's [[Pershing High School]] in spring 2010.<ref name="Hfiff">{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Jeff |date=January 29, 2010 |title=Howard follows in family's footsteps |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=4848717 |access-date=July 7, 2010 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> As a junior, he led his high school to the [[Michigan High School Athletic Association]] state championship. As a senior, he was named first team All-State by the Associated Press and ''[[Detroit Free Press]]''.<ref name="JHJWMU" /> He played his freshman season for the [[2010–11 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team|2010–11 Western Michigan Broncos]] before he transferred to the [[University of Detroit Mercy]] [[Detroit Titans men's basketball|Titans]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2011 |title=Juwan Howard Jr. to play at Detroit |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7057951 |access-date=March 1, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> As a [[redshirt (college sports)|redshirt]] sophomore for the [[2012–13 Detroit Titans men's basketball team|2012–13 Detroit Titans]], he became a regular starter and solid contributor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beard |first=Aaron |date=February 26, 2013 |title=NBA sons making their mark in college basketball |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/26/3255084/nba-sons-making-their-mark-in.html#storylink=misearch |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard Jr. |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51634 |access-date=March 1, 2013 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

On July 6, 2002, Howard married Jenine Wardally. They have two sons: Jace, who was born in late September 2001,<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2002 |title=Miamian Finds Niche In TV Role |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F61BBC171E9EC9E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 8, 2010 |website=[[The Miami Herald]] |page=1B, Local section}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomasson |first=Chris |date=November 5, 2002 |title=Howard Tells Teammates He's Sorry, And Rarin' To Go |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F733F8CD20B2918&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=September 8, 2010 |website=[[Rocky Mountain News]]}}</ref> and [[Jett Howard|Jett]], who is two years younger.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 4, 2007 |title=An Old Restaurant Starts A New Casino |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11A50587EDB0C700&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 8, 2010 |website=[[The Miami Herald]] |page=4A, Front section}}</ref> Jace formerly played under his father at the University of Michigan and currently plays for the [[Fordham Rams men's basketball|Fordham Rams]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2018 |title=2020 F Jace Howard discusses his transfer to University, recruitment and more |url=https://www.prephoops.com/2018/07/2020-f-jace-howard-discusses-his-transfer-to-university-recruitment-and-more/}}</ref> Jett played alongside his brother at Michigan until being drafted to the Orlando Magic at pick #11 in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Tony |date=June 22, 2023 |title=Jett Howard joins fellow Michigan alums after Orlando Magic pick him in NBA draft 2023 |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2023/06/22/jett-howard-nba-draft-michigan-basketball/70336030007/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |language=en-US |newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]}}</ref>

Howard is cousins with Angela Jackson, mother of NBA athletes [[Jalen McDaniels]] and [[Jaden McDaniels]], making him first cousins once removed with them and his children second cousins with them.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Jaden and Jalen McDaniels mom, Angela Jackson |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/court-side-moms-in-depth-conversations-nba-wnba-professional/id1481875923?i=1000544298811 |series=Court-side moms |network=[[Apple Podcasts]] |time=7:00 |access-date=March 24, 2023 |format=Streaming podcast}}</ref>

===Philanthropy===
As a student athlete at the University of Michigan, Howard volunteered to visit patients at the [[University of Michigan Health System|University of Michigan Health System Hospitals]] in Ann Arbor, Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bembry |first=Jerry |date=February 11, 1996 |title=Howard's impact is felt on, off court Uncertain future: Juwan Howard has made an impression on those whose lives he has touched, and on a Bullets team needing a spark. But he will become a free agent after this season. |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/02/11/howards-impact-is-felt-on-off-court-uncertain-future-juwan-howard-has-made-an-impression-on-those-whose-lives-he-has-touched-and-on-a-bullets-team-needing-a-spark-but-he-will-become-a-free-agent-after/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> He continued to engage in charity work and hospital visits throughout his career,<ref name=TADHKHPTHG/> including a Stay in School Jam for 6,500 local area students that he participated in along with several teammates and R&B artist [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 26, 1995 |title=Bullets at 'School Jam' tomorrow |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/02/26/bullets-at-school-jam-tomorrow/ |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref>

Howard was recognized in 2001 as one of the "Good Guys in Sports" by ''[[The Sporting News]]'' for his civic contributions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard # Forward |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/bio.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901182307/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/bio.html |archive-date=September 1, 2010 |access-date=September 6, 2010 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2001 |title=Howard/Finley Named to TSN's Good Guys List for 2001 |url=http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/good_guys_2001.html |access-date=July 18, 2012 |publisher=[[Dallas Mavericks]]}}</ref> In 2010, Howard won the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his community efforts, philanthropic work and charitable contributions.<ref name="PTBFCJHRNCCAAfA">{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2010 |title=Portland Trail Blazers Forward/Center Juwan Howard Receives NBA Cares Community Assist Award for April |url=http://www.iamatrailblazersfan.com/ArticleDisplay/tabid/120/ItemID/1442/Default.aspx |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031051749/http://www.iamatrailblazersfan.com/ArticleDisplay/tabid/120/ItemID/1442/Default.aspx |archive-date=October 31, 2010 |access-date=September 6, 2010 |publisher=[[Portland Trail Blazers]]/NBA Media Ventures, LLC}}</ref> He runs a yearly free basketball camp for youth, which is made possible by a partnership between the Juwan Howard Foundation and the [[Chicago Public Schools]] (CPS), Jordan Brand, [[Dell Computers]], [[EMI Music]], [[Vitamin Water]] and the NBA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowker |first=Paul |date=July 19, 2009 |title=Illinois: Former Chicago Star Juwan Howard Returns With Camp: Football heats up with Bolingbrook's annual passing jamboree. |url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/a1HroHKyEd6OEwAcxJTdpg/illinois--former-chicago-star-juwan-howard-returns-with-camp.htm |access-date=September 6, 2010 |website=[[MaxPreps]] |publisher=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> His foundation partners with the CPS for a reading challenge; the top 300 readers, out of 30,000 annually, attend his camp.<ref name=PTBFCJHRNCCAAfA/> During and after his time as a member of the Heat, Howard was active in South Florida community outreach, fundraising and humanitarian efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2012 |title=NBA, partners renovate Miami Springs community center |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/18/2856376/nba-partners-renovate-miami-springs.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Abravanel |first=Lesley |date=October 26, 2012 |title=Was Scott Disick shopping for a diamond? |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/26/3068996/was-scott-disick-shopping-for.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Curtis, Tom |last2=Bill Daley |date=December 29, 2012 |title=Heat/NBA visit to the Springs top story of 2012 |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/29/3158627/heatnba-visit-to-the-springs-top.html |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=River Cities Gazette |publisher=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref>

==Film and television appearances==
Howard appeared in the 1994 basketball film ''[[Hoop Dreams]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Golliver |first=Ben |date=September 17, 2009 |title=Your Newest Blazer: Juwan Howard |url=http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/9/17/1035743/your-newest-blazer |access-date=October 3, 2010 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He had a small role in the television drama ''[[The West Wing (TV series)|The West Wing]]'', appearing in a 1999 episode as Rodney Grant, a former [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke basketball]] player who served on [[Josiah Bartlet]]'s [[President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition|Council on Physical Fitness]] and helped him win a game against his staff.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Challen |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kTZsRcwe5mAC&q=Juwan+Howard+%22West+Wing%22&pg=PA117 |title=Inside the West Wing: an unauthorized look at television's smartest show |publisher=Ecw Press |year=2001 |isbn=1-55022-468-9 |access-date=September 7, 2010}}</ref>

Other appearances include the August 15, 1999 "The Art of Give and Take" episode of ''[[Arli$$]]'', the season 5 (2005) "Michigan's Fab 5" episode of ''[[Beyond the Glory]]'', the November 9, 1996, season 2 "Son-in-Law" episode of ''[[Hang Time (TV series)|Hang Time]]'' and the 2011 documentary ''[[The Fab Five (film)|The Fab Five]]'', produced by his Michigan teammate Jalen Rose.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juwan Howard |url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/juwan-howard/248685 |access-date=October 3, 2010 |website=[[TV Guide]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Son-in-Law |series=Hang Time |series-link=Hang Time (TV series) |network=[[NBC]] |date=November 9, 1996 |season=2 |number=10}}</ref><!--Actual refs are spam and non-RS so I cited the episode under the assumption he really appeared on the show<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hang Time Episode Guide |url=http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-3783/printable/ |access-date=October 3, 2010 |website=[[TVrage]]}}</ref> Only other sources are imdb.com and http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/TEXT_guides/HTime-guide.txt--> After his 18th season in the NBA, Howard worked with [[Rick Ross]] to produce a [[rap music|rap]] song entitled "It's Time to Ball" from an album Howard was working on, entitled ''Full Court Press Volume 1''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Golliver |first=Ben |date=August 31, 2012 |title=Heat F Juwan Howard records rap song with Rick Ross, plans to release album |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/19998608/heat-f-juwan-howard-records-rap-song-with-rick-ross-plans-to-release-album |access-date=March 1, 2013 |website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref>

Howard most recently made a brief TV appearance in the pickup basketball game scene in episode 8 of ''The Last Dance'', a documentary about the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls' championship season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Medina |first=Mark |last2=Zillgitt |first2=Jeff |date=May 10, 2020 |title='The Last Dance' takeaways: Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr explain why their relationship grew after a practice fight |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2020/05/10/the-last-dance-takeaways-michael-jordan-steve-kerr-fight-bond/3101756001/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=USA Today}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y}}

===NBA===

====Regular season====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | {{nowrap|{{nbay|1994}}}}
| align="left" | [[1994–95 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 65 || 52 || 36.1 || .489 || .000 || .664 || '''8.4''' || 2.5 || .8 || .2 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|1995}}
| align="left" | [[1995–96 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 81 || 81 || '''40.7''' || .489 || .308 || .749 || 8.1 || '''4.4''' || .8 || .5 || '''22.1'''
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|1996}}
| align="left" | [[1996–97 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| '''82''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''82'''* || 40.5 || .486 || .000 || .756 || 8.0 || 3.8 || 1.1 || .3 || 19.1
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|1997}}
| align="left" | [[1997–98 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| 64 || 64 || 40.0 || .467 || .000 || .721 || 7.0 || 3.3 || '''1.3''' || .4 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|1998}}
| align="left" | [[1998–99 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| 36 || 36 || 39.7 || .474 || .000 || .753 || 8.1 || 3.0 || 1.2 || .4 || 18.9
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|1999|trunc=y}}
| align="left" | [[1999–2000 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| '''82''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''82'''* || 35.5 || .459 || .000 || .735 || 5.7 || 3.0 || .8 || .3 || 14.9
|-
| align="left" rowspan=2| {{nbay|2000}}
| align="left" | [[2000–01 Washington Wizards season|Washington]]
| 54 || 54 || 36.7 || .474 || .000 || .770 || 7.0 || 2.9 || .9 || .4 || 18.2
|-

| align="left" | [[2000–01 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 27 || 27 || 36.8 || .488 || .000 || .780 || 7.1 || 2.6 || 1.1 || '''.6''' || 17.8
|-
| align="left" rowspan=2| {{nbay|2001}}
| align="left" | [[2001–02 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 53 || 44 || 31.3 || .462 || .000 || .754 || 7.4 || 1.8 || .5 || '''.6''' || 12.9
|-

| align="left" | [[2001–02 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 28 || 28 || 34.9 || .457 || .000 || .770 || 7.9 || 2.7 || .6 || '''.6''' || 17.9
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2002}}
| align="left" | [[2002–03 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 77 || 77 || 35.5 || .450 || '''.500''' || .803 || 7.6 || 3.0 || 1.0 || .4 || 18.4
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2003}}
| align="left" | [[2003–04 Orlando Magic season|Orlando]]
| 81 || 77 || 35.5 || .453 || .000 || .809 || 7.0 || 2.0 || .7 || .3 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2004}}
| align="left" | [[2004–05 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 61 || 47 || 26.6 || .451 || .000 || .843 || 5.7 || 1.5 || .5 || .1 || 9.6
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2005}}
| align="left" | [[2005–06 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 80 || 80 || 31.7 || .459 || .000 || .806 || 6.7 || 1.4 || .6 || .1 || 11.8
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2006}}
| align="left" | [[2006–07 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 80 || 38 || 26.5 || .465 || .000 || .824 || 5.9 || 1.6 || .4 || .1 || 9.7
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2007}}
| align="left" | [[2007–08 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 50 || 0 || 7.1 || .359 || .000 || .786 || 1.6 || .3 || .1 || .0 || 1.1
|-
| align="left" rowspan=2| {{nbay|2008}}
| align="left" | [[2008–09 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| 3 || 0 || 7.3 || .500 || .000 || .000 || 1.3 || .7 || .3 || .3 || .7
|-

| align="left" | [[2008–09 Charlotte Bobcats season|Charlotte]]
| 39 || 2 || 11.5 || .510 || .000 || .676 || 1.8 || .6 || .2 || .1 || 4.4
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2009}}
| align="left" | [[2009–10 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 73 || 27 || 22.4 || .509 || .000 || .786 || 4.6 || .8 || .4 || .1 || 6.0
|-
| align="left" | {{nbay|2010}}
| align="left" | [[2010–11 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| 57 || 0 || 10.4 || .440 || .000 || .829 || 2.1 || .4 || .2 || .1 || 2.4
|-
|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|2011}}†
| align="left" | [[2011–12 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| 28 || 0 || 6.8 || .309 || .000 || .800 || 1.6 || .4 || .1 || .0 || 1.5
|-
|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|2012}}†
| align="left" | [[2012–13 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| 7 || 2 || 7.3 || '''.526''' || .000 || '''1.000''' || 1.1 || .9 || .0 || .0 || 3.0
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center"  colspan=2| Career
| 1208 || 900 || 30.3 || .469 || .120 || .764 || 6.1 || 2.2 || .7 || .3 || 13.4
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center"  colspan=2| All-Star
| 1 || 0 || 16.0 || .200 || .000 || .000 || 6.0 || 2.0 || 1.0 || .0 || 2.0
{{S-end}}

====Playoffs====

{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" | [[1997 NBA Playoffs|1997]]
| align="left" | [[1996–97 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 3 || 3 || '''43.0''' || .465 || .000 || '''.889''' || 6.0 || '''1.7''' || '''.7''' || '''.7''' || '''18.7'''
|-
| align="left" | [[2001 NBA Playoffs|2001]]
| align="left" | [[2000–01 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 10 || '''10''' || 39.1 || .360 || .000 || .800 || '''8.3''' || 1.4 || .6 || .5 || 13.4
|-
| align="left" | [[2007 NBA Playoffs|2007]]
| align="left" | [[2006–07 Houston Rockets season|Houston]]
| 7 || 0 || 22.4 || .400 || .000 || .636 || 4.4 || 1.0 || '''.7''' || .0 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | [[2008 NBA Playoffs|2008]]
| align="left" | [[2007–08 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]]
| 3 || 0 || 3.7 || .000 || .000 || .250 || .0 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .3
|-
| align="left" | [[2010 NBA Playoffs|2010]]
| align="left" | [[2009–10 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland]]
| 6 || 0 || 14.5 || '''.526''' || .000 || .000 || 2.7 || .7 || .2 || .2 || 3.3
|-
| align="left" | [[2011 NBA Playoffs|2011]]
| align="left" | [[2010–11 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| '''11''' || 0 || 5.5 || .444 || .000 || .692 || .9 || .1 || .0 || .0 || 1.5
|-
|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|[[2012 NBA Playoffs|2012]]†
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2011–12 Miami Heat season|Miami]]
| 9 || 0 || 2.7 || .286 || .000 || .750 || .1 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .8
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="center"  colspan=2| Career
| 49 || 13 || 17.5 || .394 || .000 || .758 || 3.2 || .7 || .3 || .2 || 5.5
{{s-end}}

===College===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1991–92
| align="left" | [[1991–92 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]
|34||31||28.1||.450||.000||.688||6.2||1.8||0.4||0.6||11.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1992–93
| align="left" | [[1992–93 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]
|'''36'''||'''36'''||31.5||.506||.000||'''.700'''||7.4||1.9||0.6||0.4||14.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1993–94
| align="left" | [[1993–94 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]
|30||30||'''34.9'''||'''.556'''||'''.143'''||.675||'''9.0'''||'''2.4'''||'''1.5'''||'''0.7'''||'''20.8'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
|100||97||31.4||.510||.091||.688||7.5||2.0||0.8||0.6||15.3
{{NBA player statistics end}}

==Head coaching record==
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan Wolverines]]
 | conference = [[Big Ten Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2019
 | endyear    = 2024
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2019–20]]
 | name         = [[2019–20 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]
 | overall      = 19–12
 | conference   = 10–10
 | confstanding = 9th
 | postseason   = ''Postseason cancelled due to [[COVID-19]]''
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2020–21]]
 | name         = [[2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]
 | overall      = 23–5
 | conference   = 14–3
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2021–22]]
 | name         = [[2021–22 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]
 | overall      = 19–15{{efn|name=2022-season|Howard was suspended for the final five regular season games of the 2021–22 season. Associate head coach [[Phil Martelli]] served as acting head coach in his absence.}}
 | conference   = 11–9{{efn|name=2022-season}}
 | confstanding = T–7th
 | postseason   = [[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2022–23]]
 | name         = [[2022–23 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]
 | overall      = 18–16
 | conference   = 11–9
 | confstanding = T–5th
 | postseason   = [[2023 National Invitation Tournament|NIT Second Round]] 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2023–24]]
 | name         = [[2023–24 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]
 | overall      = 8–24
 | conference   = 3–17
 | confstanding = 14th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Michigan
 | overall    = {{winpct|87|72|record=y}}
 | confrecord = {{winpct|49|48|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
 | overall = {{winpct|87|72|record=y}}
}}

==See also==
* [[List of NBA career games played leaders]]
* [[List of NBA career personal fouls leaders]]
* [[List of NBA seasons played leaders]]
* [[List of oldest and youngest NBA players]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Albom |first=Mitch |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QJieJyQQ2ogC&pg=PT21 |title=The Fab Five: Basketball Trash Talk the American Dream |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |year=1993 |isbn=0-446-51734-8}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}

* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Basketballstats}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100418044313/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/basketball/basketstart.php Career statistical archive] at the [[University of Michigan]]
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/h/juwan_howard/index.html Archives] at ''[[The New York Times]]''

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Juwan}}
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