Dwight Howard has the nickname D-12, because his first name starts with the letter ‘D’ and he wears the number 12 on his basketball uniform. That’s not exactly the most creative nickname and one I would assume is fake if not for assurances from my editor, who knows way more about the NBA than I do.
Alas, Howard is joining the Atlanta Hawks next season and changing his number, so that appears to be the end of the D-12 moniker. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution/a>:
The newest Hawks player will apparently no longer wear his uniform No. 12. Howard appeared on the NBA TV broadcast of the Hawks’ Las Vegas Summer League game against the Rockets on Friday. He said on the air that he will change his number from the one he has worn his entire professional career.
Howard would not reveal the new number. He said only that it will be biblical and have deep meaning.
“Biblical and have deep meaning” appears to rule out him wearing No. 69, which is sad and not nice. It’s also going to be confusing for Howard’s charity, which is called the D12 Foundation. Without the tie-in to the number on his uniform, it sounds like an organization that sells vitamins or wants more Mighty Ducks movie sequels.
If Howard needs a new nickname, I hope he will consider Howard the Dunk.
(AJC)
