Dwight Howard has achieved it all in the NBA, and even at age 36, he still has something left to contribute to the league.
But is the center, who is currently without a team as a free agent, already thinking about life post-NBA?
Howard made a surprise appearance Thursday at a WWE tryout session in Nashville, Tenn., the site of this weekend’s SummerSlam. The eight-time NBA All-Star and one-time NBA champion used his wrestling alias, Sho’nuff — the villain from the 1985 movie “The Last Dragon.”
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Howard cut a promo and participated in in-ring drills. According to Arash Markazi, Howard spent about five hours at the tryouts.
Markazi added that Howard told him he legitimately wants to join WWE one day.
Dwight Howard was a surprise participant at the WWE Tryout in Nashville today. He told me he legit wants to join the WWE one day. pic.twitter.com/LiUnNqPsdv
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 28, 2022
“I think it is something that’s in my future,” Howard told Markazi. “I love the WWE, I love wrestling. Hopefully one day in the future I’ll be in the ring wrestling and holding up that belt. It’d be amazing.”
Dwight Howard said he would like to play in the NBA next season but is ready to transition and join the WWE if that does not happen. His NBA career began in Orlando and he said he’s open to beginning his WWE career in Orlando where the WWE Performance Center is located. pic.twitter.com/VnT0bA1LCB
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 28, 2022
Howard seemed to be serious about a possible career change. He was asking coaches and attendees how to properly take a bump in the ring and do other moves.
Dwight Howard spent about five hours at the WWE Tryout in Nashville today. He told me he’s going to be ringside at SummerSlam on Saturday. He said he’s serious about joining the WWE. He was asking coaches and attendees how to properly take a bump in the ring and do other moves. pic.twitter.com/ZLOzzvvb1P
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 28, 2022
Howard would be getting a late start into the wrestling world, but it would not be without precedent. Famed WWE icon Diamond Dallas Page started his wrestling career at 35.
WWE is all about athleticism — which the 6-10 Howard still possesses despite his back surgeries over the years — and loud and marketable personalities, which, as the above video shows, should be no problem for Howard.