Foregoing college, Dwight Howard opted into the 2004 NBA Draft and the Orlando Magic selected him first overall. In his first season, Dwight Howard had a season high of 29 points on March 16 against the Los Angeles Clippers. He finished the season with an average of 12 points a game and 10 rebounds per game, becoming one of only a few rookies (and the youngest ever) in NBA history to average a double-double. He is the youngest player in the NBA to average 10 rebounds. In addition, Dwight Howard grabbed 20 rebounds in three games, becoming the youngest NBA player ever to record at least 20 rebounds. He became the only player to start every game after making the leap from prep to pro. Dwight Howard was selected to play in the 2005 NBA Got Milk? Rookie Challenge, and was also unanimously selected to the All-NBA Rookie First Team.

On November 15, 2005, in a home game at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, Florida against the Charlotte Bobcats, Dwight Howard scored 21 points and 20 rebounds, becoming the youngest player ever to score 20 or more points and 20 or more rebounds. So far during the 2007-08 season Dwight is averaging nearly 22 points per game and 15 rebounds.

Dwight Howard played high school basketball at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, a private academy with one of the best high school basketball programs. He was awarded a number of accolades in high school, including 2003-04 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.