For those interested in both late-night television and professional basketball, you may recognize a familiar face in the upcoming season of ABC’s hit show, “Dancing with the Stars.”

Longtime NBA veteran and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is set to appear on the show’s 33rd season, which was announced on “Hello America” last week.

Howard, who spent 18 seasons in the NBA and has been playing professional basketball in Taiwan since 2022, began his career with the Magic after being selected first overall in the 2004 NBA Draft.

His list of accolades is impressive in itself: 8-time All-Star and 8-time All-NBA selection, 5-time leading rebounder and 2-time leading blocker, 5-time All-Defensive Team member and 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, plus an NBA title in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Howard is a polarizing figure to say the least, but he is undoubtedly part of the pantheon of the greatest players in the Magic’s 35-year history in the NBA. In eight seasons and 621 games, Howard averaged 18.4 points and 13.0 rebounds per game.

But the 6’2″ and 260 lb “Superman” will be dancing in search of a new trophy unlike any he’s won so far: the DWTS Mirrorball Trophy.

Former NBA center and longtime Magic icon Dwight Howard will appear on the hit show, "Dancing with the stars."

Dwight Howard is among the celebrities and athletes set to appear on season 33 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” / Andrew Eccles/Disney

Howard “has been dancing his whole life, but not ballroom dancing,” he told Good Morning America when his role on the show was revealed.

He will be partnered with professional dancer Daniella Karagach, 31. In addition to DWTS, Karagach has competed on NBC’s “World of Dance” and choreographed for FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance.” On “Dancing with the Stars,” Karagach placed third with Grammy Award-winning rapper Nelly, won season 30 with fellow former professional basketball player Iman Shumpert and most recently finished second with singer-songwriter Jason Mraz on season 32.

“I’m definitely going to trust him, follow his lead and have a lot of fun,” Howard said of Karagach, whom he called “amazing” to GMA.

So far, Shumpert is the only NBA player to reach the DWTS finale and win. But Howard, 38, can buck that trend next year.

He’ll have to beat out a cast that includes fellow athlete and former NFL wide receiver Danny Amendola, U.S. Olympic medalists Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik, as well as a cast of TV personalities and models.

How to watch

“Dancing with the Stars” season 33 will premiere Tuesday, September 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Episodes will be available to stream on Hulu the following day.

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