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Magic vs. Hawks: Howard Excited About New Start

Related Topics: Orlando Magic, 2004 NBA draft

ORLANDO – Back in his hometown of Atlanta following a contentious breakup with the Orlando Magic and rocky stops in Los Angeles and Houston, Dwight Howard is eager to try and write a happy ending to his once storybook NBA career.

Howard, now 30 years old and wearing No. 8 after donning No. 12 for the first 12 years of his career, opted out of his contract with the Rockets last June so that he could return to Atlanta and play for the Hawks. Before he was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Magic, Howard grew up in Atlanta and attended Southwest Christian Academy High School in Georgia’s capitol city.