Juwan Howard (born February 7, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) picked up basketball at the age of 9 and made it to the NBA as the 5th overall pick in the 1994 draft. He is a former All-Star and All-NBA power forward and was a member of the University of Michigan Wolverines' "Fab Five" (along with Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson) that reached the 1992 and 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games as both freshmen and sophomores. Juwan Howard grew up on the South side of Chicago and had to overcome many challenges to make it to where he's at today. This is Juwan Howard. This is his Purpose...

Deborah Martinez: What are a few of the things that you do to give back to your community?
Juwan Howard: I play a major role in giving back to the community, and I do it from the bottom of my heart. The reason why is because I see the other side of the fence; I have been one of the less fortunate ones, and I have always made a promise to myself and to my friends and family, that if I ever succeeded in life (and now that I have been a professional athlete for fourteen (14) years, thus far), I vowed that I would always reach out and help others; less fortunate; to not only my community, but to others. I have a foundation that I started fourteen years ago. We have been very heavy in the Washington D.C. area, Baltimore, Virginia, Orlando, Houston, Denver and of course my home base, Chicago- The Juwan Howard Foundation. We started the Warm Hearts Program, where we donate coats and warm clothing to various shelters in the D.C. area. I have a lot of friends and fans that have stepped up and helped me with that. I have this College Bound program that I have been involved with, where we contribute scholarships to kids who are going on to college; this is really close to my heart because I believe in reinforcing education. Also, we have been involved in this educational program; Reading to Achieve and Reading is Fundamental; I am a board member of Reading is Fundamental. In the Chicago area, with the reading program, we have challenged kids to read more and in return for the kids who read the most books they are allowed to attend a free basketball camp, given by me, it is for five days and we are going on our eighth year. We have a lot of sponsors that help with this program; Chicago Public Schools and they have been very instrumental in helping me with this, as well as: Gatorade Wilson; Brand Jordan and a lot of local sponsors in the Chicago area.

DM: What athlete was your biggest influence growing up?
JH: Julius Irving!

DM: How important is the role of family in your success?
JH: Family plays a major part in my success. They are my biggest supporters, my number one fans. If you don’t have family, you don’t have life; I believe in that motto. Family will always be the ones that will step up, no matter if you have a good game or a bad game, be the first ones to cheer for you and pat you on the back and give you that unconditional love, and that will last a lifetime. I know even if I don’t play basketball they will always be a part of my life, and I appreciate that and them.

DM: How do you manage to stay out of the negative headlines?
JH: Well, I have actually been a part of negative headlines before, but, I have been one of those to overcome those obstacles, because I have maintained mental strength and I didn’t let it tear me down. I knew that the negativity by listening to those headlines can tear you down where you don’t trust in yourself and question your values. But, I have always tried to believe in what my Grandmother has instilled in me, as far as being strong. There will always be people that of course will try to…if you’re part of that situation where people put you on a pedestal, there are going to be those to try to knock you off; I have just always tried to maintain a level head.

DM: What is the hardest part about being a professional athlete?
JH: I would have to say the attention that you receive publicly…
DM: Do you mean the gossip aspect, or do you mean just not having privacy.
JH: I am happy that you clarified that, because I would have to go with choice B, the attention and privacy part. It could be a lot worse, but, I like my privacy. I am a person who likes my space and I don’t like the attention, especially being tall and standing 6 foot 9"…even if they don’t know I am a basketball player, they still notice me and assume that I am an athlete.
DM: So, it might be easier to be a 6’2” basketball player, right?
JH: A lot easier for those guys to kind of blend in. Someone like myself, you know, I stick out.

DM: Out of all of the levels that you played at, which coach was your biggest influence?
Juwan Howard: My High School coach, his name is Richard Cook. He is the biggest influence, because, during my adolescent years my father wasn’t really involved in my life like he should have been and my High School coach was a person who I respected and took on that father figure role; I respect him for that and I appreciate everything that he did for me in helping me and teaching me how to grow as a young man. I look back on it today and during the times that he was helping me and teaching me right from wrong I always tried to put up a shield and get defensive. But, I know now that he was helping me and I am really, really blessed to have someone like that in my life.
DM: Are you still close with him?
JH: Yes, very, he works my basketball camps.

DM: If you could tell all of the first year Pros one thing, what would it be?
JH: Pauses…Listen to your veterans.

DM: When did you first fall in love with basketball?
JH: When I was 12 years old.
DM: What happened at 12?
JH: I liked the game of basketball a lot, but, I was in love with baseball, when I was about 6. But, as I started growing taller and taller I started to play more basketball and a lot of my peers and people who knew of me and saw me play in playgrounds, they suggested to me that I should play more basketball. I started to enjoy the game more and started to fall in love with it.

DM: What is your most memorable moment as an athlete?
JH: When I was a freshman and we made it to the NCAA championship game, playing against Duke University.

DM: Should athletes be more involved in church and community, and if they were do you think that would quell some of the negative stereotypes?
JH: Well, I feel that it all depends on your faith. Some athletes have a strong belief in God, some have a spiritual background and some don’t. Those who are heavily involved with and have a strong relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ, then those are the ones that will continue to succeed in life. Those that, in my opinion, do not have those strong religious beliefs are going to struggle. God, is of course, the one, who I believe in, has blessed us with the gift to play our talent- no matter what it is, basketball, football, whatever, and I think a lot of us forget that.

Juwan Howard's Website

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