10 NBA players sure to regress in 2018-19
3. Dwight Howard, Washington Wizards
At this stage of his career, Dwight Howard is a ticking time bomb — in terms of his back problems, the off-court turmoil his teams perpetually fall into, and his propensity for locker room flatulence. The Washington Wizards‘ off-court camaraderie already stank last year, and adding D-12 (or is it D-21 now?) to the mix won’t help matters.
Most were expecting Howard to fall off the map last season, but the big man posted a respectable 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in something of a bounce-back season. Unfortunately, his field goal percentage dropped to 55.4 percent, and the Charlotte Hornets weren’t any better in the win-loss column with him onboard.
Pick-and-roll ball-handlers like John Wall and Bradley Beal might be able to keep Father Time at bay for Howard for another season, but as he approaches his 33rd birthday, it’s concerning his back is already acting up. Between that and the potential locker room issues, this might be the season Howard sees a noticeable dip in his production.