When Dwight Howard pledged his loyalty to the Magic: “Me and Mickey Mouse will be here forever” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
After playing his first All-Star season in 2007, Dwight Howard inked a massive five-year contract extension reportedly worth approximately $80 million with the Orlando Magic. The generous offer reflected how much the Magic value their big man and emphasized that they have already made Howard, who was only 21 years old at the time, the franchise’s new face.
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In return, “D12” pledged his loyalty to the Magic in a funny yet impactful way. According to Howard, Orlando and its fans have yet to witness the best version of himself, but he was pleased and honored to accomplish that while playing for the Magic.
“Me and Mickey Mouse will be here forever,” Howard joked via ESPN.
“Orlando has really seen just a little bit of Dwight Howard,” the All-Star center further stated with enthusiasm and seriousness. “There are a lot of things that I need to do to get better. I don’t really think I have scratched the surface of the things I know I am capable of doing, but each year and each game is an experience for me. And really I am just so excited right now, it’s hard to explain.”
Orlando was ready to win with Howard
The Magic finished the 2006-07 season with a 40-42 record. Howard played in all 82 games and averaged 17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per outing. However, the Detroit Pistons swept the Magic in the first round.
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Despite the early elimination, Magic general manager Otis Smith was all-in on “D12.” He was convinced that Howard was the perfect player to build around as the team began its quest for an NBA championship.
“You have to have a big guy in the middle. [Coach Stan Van Gundy] talked about the great perimeter players, and I feel very good about the opportunity to sign a big guy for a long period of time,” Smith said of extending Howard’s contract with the Magic.
On the other hand, Howard acknowledged the pressure that lies ahead of him as Orlando’s main guy. Nevertheless, the 6’10” big man approached his situation with remarkable confidence.
“God didn’t give me big shoulders for nothing, so I feel I can handle a lot of pressure,” Howard added. “I am just very excited.”
There’s no forever in Disneyland
The following season, Howard proved that Orlando had made the right decision to bank on his talents. He finished the 2007-08 season with an impressive 20.7 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. The team also made it to the second round that year.
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In 2009, “D12” and the Magic took off. They won 59 wins in the regular season and made it all the way to the Finals. Unfortunately, they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Magic found themselves almost in the same situation in 2010, but they fell short against the Boston Celtics in the Western Conference Finals. Orlando then suffered back-to-back first-round elimination in the next two consecutive postseasons.
Due to the disappointments and frustrations, conflict arose within the Magic, particularly between Howard and Coach Stan Van Gundy. In 2012, Dwight finally broke his promise and left the Magic for the Lakers.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.