Jett Howard explains how his relationship with his dad prepared him for NBA

Jett Howard didn’t have to look far to find the right mentor and coach for him on his journey to the NBA. His father, Michigan coach and former NBA star Juwan Howard, has been there to offer advice to his son throughout his whole life, especially this past year when Jett played for the Wolverines.

The dream came to fruition this past June when the Orlando Magic selected Jett Howard No. 11 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. In an interview during Saturday’s NBA Summer League, he revealed the emotions he felt in that moment, as well as what it meant to have his dad alongside him through it all.

“Just a feeling of relief,” Jett Howard said. “It’s hard to wrap your brain around. It’s just so surreal. All your work has been for that moment. Just having my dad there, him happy as well. He went through that whole process too, so it was a good experience.”

A four-star prospect coming out of IMG Academy, Jett Howard ranked as the No. 41 overall prospect and No. 15 small forward according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the second-leading scorer at Michigan this past season, averaging 14.2 points to go along with 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

All while he was at Michigan and even throughout the months leading up to the draft, Howard said he and his dad met almost daily to work out. There he learned first hand the work ethic that made Juwan Howard an All-Star and NBA champion. It wasn’t easy by any means, but Jett Howard believes in the end it ultimately helped him to be ready for the move to the next level.

“It’s hard. People are lying if they say it’s not hard to kind of differentiate those two,” he said. “I didn’t really look at him too much like a dad when he’s in work mode. But as soon as he gets home, he just flips it off.”

Throughout three Summer League appearances thus far, Howard is averaging 13.3 points per game while shooting an efficient 40% from 3-point range. Those numbers rank him third overall on the Summer League team and first among the Magic’s draft picks from this offseason.

Orlando is 0-5 in the Summer League and will not play any more games. But with the experience he gained there and the lessons he learned growing up with and play for his dad, Jett Howard will look to carry over the success from the Summer League into his rookie season.

“He just understood the predraft process and all those workouts you have to do to get drafted,” he said. “He just wanted to make sure I was prepared. We were just in the gym pretty much every day just working out. I’ve seen a new side of my father from that time and it paid off.”