Juwan Antonio Howard is an American college basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team. He was an assistant coach for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2013 to 2019. Howard played in the NBA from 1994 until 2013.
A one-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA power forward, he began his NBA career as the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, selected by the Washington Bullets. Before he was drafted, he starred as an All-American on the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team. At Michigan he was part of the Fab Five recruiting class of 1991 that reached the finals of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in 1992 and 1993. Howard won his first NBA championship with Miami in the 2012 NBA Finals and his second NBA championship in the 2013 NBA Finals.
Howard was an All-American center and an honors student at Chicago Vocational Career Academy. Michigan was able to sign him early over numerous competing offers and then convince others in his recruiting class to join him. The Fab Five, which included Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, served as regular starters during their freshman and sophomore years for the 1991–92 and 1992–93 Wolverines. Howard was the last member of the Fab Five to remain active as a professional basketball player. Although many of the Wolverines’ accomplishments from 1992 to 1998 were forfeited due to the University of Michigan basketball scandal, which involved booster payments to players to launder money from illegal gambling, Howard’s 1993–94 All-American season continues to be recognized.
Howard played six-and-a-half seasons (1994–2001) for the Bullets franchise (renamed the Wizards in 1997), three full seasons (2004–07) for the Houston Rockets, two plus seasons for the Heat and shorter stints for several other teams. During his rookie year with the Bullets, he became the first player to graduate on time with his class after leaving college early to play in the NBA. After one season as an All-Rookie player and a second as an All-Star and an All-NBA performer, he became the first NBA player to sign a $100 million contract. While he continued to be a productive starter, he was never again selected to play in an All-Star Game. Towards the end of his contract, he was traded at the NBA trade deadline twice to make salary cap room. He was most recently a regular starter during the 2005–06 NBA season. In 2010, he signed with the Heat and entered his 17th NBA season, during which he reached the playoffs for the sixth time and made his first career NBA Finals appearance. He remained with the Heat the following season and won his first NBA championship during the 2012 NBA Finals. He returned to the Heat for part of the following season, and won a second championship. Howard has developed a reputation as a humanitarian for his civic commitment.
Juwan Howard prioritizes players’ mental health amid COVID-19 pandemic
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Since taking the job last May, Howard has stressed the importance of sharing ownership of the program with his players. One way he does that is through an open door policy. Howard has gone out of his way to make himself accessible to his players, which opens a line of communication that has only become more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Howard approached each player before this season individually for an important conversation.
“I’m always concerned about our players, staff, support staff, about their health,” Howard said after the Wolverines’ 91-71 win over Toledo on Wednesday. “Health is always (priority) number one with me. Basketball is last. And I’m speaking of health as well as metal health. That’s why I’ve always asked my players, ‘How are you doing?’ And that sometimes can be the typical, oh, (what) everyone wants to say, but I want to know how they’re doing mentally.”
Howard’s prioritization of mental and physical health guided Michigan through an uncertain fall. Making a concerted effort not to sway his players in one direction, Howard spoke to them individually before the season to understand whether or not they wanted to suit up this year. As the pandemic worsened, he understood some players very well could’ve taken a stance against playing. That was something he was prepared to “respect and support,” he said Wednesday.
Nobody elected to opt-out, but the broader point was clear. If any player didn’t want to take the court, they knew Howard had their back.
“It’s about (players) and whatever they want to do,” Howard said. “… Being a college student, you come here to get an education and also compete on that floor. When it’s taken away, it’s a huge void. But knowing that your health has to be (priority) number one and basketball has to take a backseat to it.”
Earlier this week, the Wolverines got their first taste of pandemic scheduling havoc. Michigan was originally set to play NC State on Wednesday as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, but a COVID-19 case within the Wolfpack program forced the teams to call off the game on Monday. The Wolverines spent the afternoon racing to find a new opponent and ultimately agreed to host Toledo — one of the MAC’s most talented teams — on Wednesday.
By the time Michigan found a new opponent, it only had 48 hours to prepare. That left the staff scrambling to put together footage, scouting reports and a game plan — something that reminded Howard of a quick postseason turnaround.
It marked the first of many whirlwinds to come for the Wolverines, which makes Howard’s prioritization of mental health all the more important.
“(Howard) reaches out after practice,” senior forward Isaiah Livers said during a Zoom call with reporters Friday. “He won’t skip it, it’s on his plan, he sees it. He’ll just be sure to mention, ‘Hey, if you guys are struggling, I know you’re not seeing people … you’re sitting in a room all day until practice, staying inside.’ He reaches out.
“We have resources and he’s not afraid to call your phone and just check up on you and see how things are going. That’s him and the support staff. They’re all on top of it. Maybe not every day, but every other day they’re reaching out.”
Hunter Dickinson Is A Star, And Juwan Howard Knows It
Five games, five double-digit scoring nights. Freshman center Hunter Dickinson is the real deal.
And Juwan Howard knows it.
Howard was asked about pumping up his young big while making sure to keep him humble and driven. There’s an art to getting the most out of young players while also keeping them in college. Basketball coaches never want to keep their players from achieving their NBA dreams, but Howard would certainly love to have Dickinson around for a few years. If Dickinson keeps playing like he has through his first five collegiate games, Howard might not have that luxury.
JUWAN HOWARD, THE PLAYER
Howard has played six-and-a-half seasons (1994–2001) for the Bullets franchise (renamed the Wizards in 1997), three full seasons (2004–2007) for the Houston Rockets, two+ seasons for the Heat and shorter stints for several other teams. During his rookie year with the Bullets, he became the first player to graduate on time with his class after leaving college early to play in the NBA. After one season as an All-Rookie player and a second as an All-Star and an All-NBA performer, he became the first NBA player to sign a $100 million contract. While he continued to be a productive starter, he was never again selected to play in an All-Star Game. Towards the end of his contract, he was traded at the NBA trade deadline twice to make salary cap room.
He was most recently a regular starter during the 2005–2006 NBA season. In 2010, he signed with the Heat and entered his 17th NBA season, during which he reached the playoffs for the sixth time and made his first career NBA Finals appearance. He remained with the Heat the following season and won his first NBA championship during the 2012 NBA Finals. He returned to the Heat for part of the following season and helped them win their second consecutive title. Howard has developed a reputation as a humanitarian for his civic commitment.
MEET THE COACH, JUWAN HOWARD
Juwan Antonio Howard (born February 7, 1973) is an assistant coach for the NBA’s Miami Heat. A one-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA power forward, he began his NBA career as the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets. Before he was drafted, he starred as an All-American on the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team. At Michigan he was part of the Fab Five recruiting class of 1991 that reached the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Division I Basketball Championship in 1992 and 1993. Howard won his first NBA championship with Miami in the 2012 NBA Finals and then his second with the Heat in 2013.
Howard was an All-American center and an honors student at Chicago Vocational Career Academy. Michigan was able to sign him early over numerous competing offers and then convince others in his recruiting class to join him. The Fab Five, which included Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, served as regular starters during their freshman and sophomore years for the 1991–92 and 1992–93 Wolverines. Howard is the last member of the Fab Five who remains active as a professional basketball player. Although many of the Wolverines’ accomplishments from 1992 to 1998 were forfeited due to the University of Michigan basketball scandal, which involved booster payments to players to launder money from illegal gambling, Howard’s 1993–94 All-American season continues to be recognized.
