Dancing with the Stars returned to screens for a brand new season this week on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, with a star-studded lineup. The popular dancing reality competition featured celebrities from different walks of life as they competed for the famed Mirrorball trophy. This included several athletes, including 38-year-old basketball player, Dwight Howard. Dwight was paired up with Daniella Karagach. The two performed a Salsa to This is How We Do It by Montell Jordan and earned praise online. One person wrote on X:
in case anyone was wondering, Dwight Howard just absolutely CRUSHED his dancing with the stars debut
Dancing with the Stars fans praised Daniella and said Howie had the best partner on season 33:
Have never been the biggest Dwight Howard fan, but you cannot deny how impressive he was tonight on "Dancing With The Stars."
Dancing with the Stars season 33 fans further said:
Dwight Howard saw what Iman Shumpert did on Dancing with the Stars and said: My turn. #DWTS
oh dear i've been deeply charmed by dwight howard i know nothing about him but watching him dance was so fun #dwts
My Bally Sports wasn't working tonight so I randomly found myself watching Dancing with the Stars (very out of character for me). Can we all agree that Dwight Howard was actually FANTASTIC and Anna Delvey should absolutely be the first to go home? I'm invested now.
Okay my favorites to win it after night one of #DWTS: - Chandler Kinney - Stephen Nedoroscik - Dwight Howard
Dwight howard actually might win this season having that performance week one is crazy
dancing w the stars personal top 3 after episode 1: 1: dwight howard 2: bachelor joey 3: pommel horse guy
favorite dance of the night HAD to be dwight howard tbh he did sooo much better than i thought he would've
In Dancing with the Stars season 33 episode 1, NBA star Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach's rehearsal clips were shown ahead of their performance. Noting the height difference between her and Dwight, Daniella said:
"I feel like I'm dancing with a giraffe."
The two danced to This is How We Do It and the performance included lifts, flips, and a basketball. The judges commented on the Dancing with the Stars season 33 pair's first performance of the season, and Derek said it was like watching a "giraffe and a gazelle dance" together. He further praised Dwight's energy and charisma.
Carrie Ann praised the performance and said the DWTS pair set the "house on fire," and Bruno said that the basketball player had a natural connection. Carrie Ann scored the pair 8, while Derek and Bruno gave Dwight and Daniella's performance 7. This brought their total to 22 out of 30, the second-highest score of the night after Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong, who received a judges' score of 23 out of 30.
Other athletes who participated in Dancing with the Stars season 33 included:
- Danny Amendola (former NFL wide receiver), partnered with Witney Carson.
- Stephen Nedoroscik (American gymnast), partnered with Rylee Arnold.
- Ilona Maher (American rugby player), partnered with Alan Bersten.
Danny and Witney danced to A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozy and received a score of 20 out of 30. Ilona and Alan danced to Man! I Feel Like A Woman by Shania Twain and received a score of 18 out of 30. Stephen and Rylee danced to Don't Stop Me Now by Queen and received a score of 21 out of 30.
DWTS fans commented on the season premiere performances online and praised Dwight and Daniella's performance online.
Dwight Howard is literally killing it on #DWTS!!!
DWTS season 33 will return next week with a new episode on Tuesday, September 23, 2024, on ABC.
Dwight Howard's History with the NBA
Dwight Howard is a former NBA center who was known for his athleticism, rebounding, and shot-blocking skills. He was selected first overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic and went on to have a successful career in the league. He was an eight-time NBA All-Star and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times. He was the NBA rebounding leader five times, and he was also a former NBA slam dunk champion.
A Desire to Return to Orlando
Howard's most successful period came in Orlando, where he played for eight seasons. He left the team in 2012 and went on to play for several other teams including the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia 76ers. Since 2022, Howard has played internationally in Taiwan and the Philippines. However, the 38-year-old has not announced his retirement. Howard has said in the past that he would like to return to the Orlando Magic, where he first made a name for himself in the NBA.
In fact, in May 2024, during an appearance on The OGs podcast, Howard said:
I still want to come back and play one last year. In Orlando.
It remains to be seen if Dwight Howard will get his wish, but his desire to play for the Magic again shows the impact that the team and the city had on him.
New Dancing Career
While he is still pursuing a return to the NBA, Howard has also been busy doing other things. In recent years he has appeared on other television shows, and he also participated in various basketball leagues in Taiwan and the Philippines. In September 2024, Howard decided to take on a new challenge and joined Dancing With The Stars, which seems like an entirely different arena for the NBA star. On the show, Howard is paired with Daniella Karagach. His performance on the show and the recent statement he made about playing in the NBA may indicate that he wants to keep his career going in some way. With his recent appearance on Dancing With The Stars, he showed that he can still captivate audiences and his career may not be ending anytime soon.
Dwight Howard's Dancing With The Stars Debut: A New Chapter?
Only time will tell what Howard's next career chapter will look like. But for now, he is enjoying the opportunity to learn a new skill, showcase his personality, and hopefully bring home the Mirrorball trophy.
