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  6. article_body => "<p>Dwight Howard is entering his first season with the Wizards and 14th season in the NBA with a minor kink.<\/p>\n<p>\"He's a little banged up right now,\" head coach Scott Brooks said Monday on&nbsp;106.7 The Fan's Sports Junkies simulcast on NBC Sports Washington. \"Nothing serious. His&nbsp;back is a little sore.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Brooks followed up on the 32-year-old being a \"little banged up\" by noting how good Howard looks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"He just came in a couple days ago. He looks great. His body, he told me he's 262 [pounds], 6.3&nbsp;percent body fat. It's just mind-boggling.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>After being traded by the Hornets to the Nets and eventually bought out,&nbsp;the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/dusting-his-cape-dwight-howard-looking-forward-playing-wizards\">Wizards pick Howard up on a&nbsp;two-year, $11 million deal<\/a>. Standing at 6-foot-11, he's&nbsp;a massive upgrade for the team at center after trading Marcin Gortat to the Clippers during the offseason.<\/p>\n<p>During the 2017-18 season, Howard averaged 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. He appeared&nbsp;in 81 games with the Hornets, shooting 55.5 percent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"His talent, his size, his ability,\" Brooks added when speaking on what he will bring to this Wizards team.<\/p>\n<p>His new head coach, however, does feel the eight-time All-Star will have to adjust his game to the NBA's new era.<\/p>\n<p>\"He's going to have to change. The game has changed. I think what he does really impact&nbsp;win. He's a big guy that can protect the paint. He's one of the best rebounders. He averaged almost 13 a game last year, I think third in the league.&nbsp;If he continues this pace&nbsp;he's gonna be, you know, three or four in the history of the game in rebounds.<\/p>\n<p>\"And that's one thing we lacked. When we went small, we couldn't rebound.&nbsp;When we went big, we had&nbsp;trouble rebounding, so I&nbsp;think he gives us something that we really need.\"<\/p>\n<p>We will start to see how Howard contributes to the Wizards as they&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/washington-wizards-bring-training-camp-back-dc-announce-start-date-and-roster\">kick off training camp Monday<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>MORE WIZARDS NEWS:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fortune-Telling:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/wizards-2018-19-storyline-no-5-how-much-better-will-bench-be\">The bench needs to improve<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>2018-19 storyline No. 1:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/wizards-2018-19-storyline-no-1-will-dwight-howard-fit-and-court\">Will&nbsp;Howard fit in on and off the court?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>No D.C. Love:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/jimmy-butler-wants-out-minnesota-wizards-are-not-his-shortlist\">Butler releases trade shortlist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>East Beasts:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/ranking-10-best-nba-players-east-2018-19-season\">Ranking the best players in the East<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Crunching Stats<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/plenty-all-time-statistical-milestones-sight-wall-beal-and-company\">Plenty of Wizards milestones in view<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Wizards

Wizards

Dwight Howard is entering his first season with the Wizards and 14th season in the NBA with a minor kink.

"He's a little banged up right now," head coach Scott Brooks said Monday on 106.7 The Fan's Sports Junkies simulcast on NBC Sports Washington. "Nothing serious. His back is a little sore." 

Brooks followed up on the 32-year-old being a "little banged up" by noting how good Howard looks. 

"He just came in a couple days ago. He looks great. His body, he told me he's 262 [pounds], 6.3 percent body fat. It's just mind-boggling." 

After being traded by the Hornets to the Nets and eventually bought out, the Wizards pick Howard up on a two-year, $11 million deal. Standing at 6-foot-11, he's a massive upgrade for the team at center after trading Marcin Gortat to the Clippers during the offseason.

During the 2017-18 season, Howard averaged 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. He appeared in 81 games with the Hornets, shooting 55.5 percent. 

"His talent, his size, his ability," Brooks added when speaking on what he will bring to this Wizards team.

His new head coach, however, does feel the eight-time All-Star will have to adjust his game to the NBA's new era.

"He's going to have to change. The game has changed. I think what he does really impact win. He's a big guy that can protect the paint. He's one of the best rebounders. He averaged almost 13 a game last year, I think third in the league. If he continues this pace he's gonna be, you know, three or four in the history of the game in rebounds.

 

"And that's one thing we lacked. When we went small, we couldn't rebound. When we went big, we had trouble rebounding, so I think he gives us something that we really need."

We will start to see how Howard contributes to the Wizards as they kick off training camp Monday. 

MORE WIZARDS NEWS: