Dwight Howard, one of the great physical presences in NBA history, wants to play 20 seasons in the league. The Houston Chronicle reports Howard saying “that’s always been my goal–to play 2o years in the league so I think it can be done.” The collective sigh you just heard was the ownership of Dwight Howard’s former teams. The Magic and Lakers had likely presumed Howard’s goal was to win championships, not longevity.
Howard’s current team, the Houston Rockets, didn’t join in that sigh because Howard is back from injury and he makes the already formidable Rockets an outside title contender this year. Howard cited Tim Duncan as a role model for a long career–and Rockets fans will be happy to note that Duncan’s long career includes lots of late winning. Before Duncan won his most recent championship last year at age 38, the resilient Spur last won a title in 2007. That was his 10th season. Howard is now in his 11th. Rockets will gladly take one title now from Howard–and another in seven years, if they can work that out.
