Dwight Howard #8 (left) of the Atlanta Hawks. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP
At one point in his career, Dwight Howard was deemed as the most dominant center in the league.
However, multiple significant injuries slowed down the 31-year-old big man, as evidenced by his declining production in recent seasons.
With three-point shooting becoming a priority for most NBA teams’ offensive schemes, Howard bared his intentions to expand his shooting range by working with a trainer this off-season.
“I’ve been working on my threes, really trying to add some range to my game,” the Atlanta Hawks center told ESPN. “Which is going to be weird for people to see, I guess. They are used to seeing me in the paint battling.”
The task, meanwhile, will be easier said done than for Howard, who has been regarded as a notoriously poor free-throw shooter throughout his 13-year NBA career.
He made five of his 56 attempted three pointers in his career, most of which came from end-of-quarter heaves.
Howard knows he’s going to have his work cut out to improve his range, but understands the need to evolve his game to keep up with today’s fast-paced games.
“In order for me to play longer, I have to expand my game. The game is not just back to the basket, get the ball in the post and go to work,” he said.
“It’s more stepping away from the basket, setting screens, popping, shooting threes and stuff like that. People haven’t seen me do that,” he added.
Howard thinks that “it’s going to be an adjustment for me, but also the fans. I think it’s going to be fun.”
Howard looks to follow the footsteps of his fellow centers Al Horford, Brook Lopez, DeMarcus Cousins and Marc Gasol, who all shot considerably more from beyond the arc this season. Khristian Ibarrola /ra