Jett Howard goes in-depth with basketball insider Andy Katz

Jett Howard had the unenviable task of following his father to the Michigan Wolverines. It’s never easy following in the footsteps of a legend, especially when it comes to the world of big-time college basketball in America. While Howard had to follow in the footsteps of one of the members of the famed “Fab Five”, one of college basketball’s most iconic groups, he learned to utilize all the advantages of having Juwan Howard as a father gave him.

Recently, leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, Jett Howard sat down with basketball insider Andy Katz to discuss several topics. NBA TV aired the interview during NBA Summer League games on Thursday evening.

Andy Katz goes in-depth with Jett Howard

At what point did Howard start to think that he could follow in his father’s footsteps and become an NBA player?

“Honestly, I would say, like sophomore year in high school. I felt like it all started to come together a little bit from a skill standpoint. And you know, we always set goals, and that was a big one for me,” Howard said.

What did he start seeing in his own skill set that made him believe they could transfer to the NBA level?

“Just from shooting. I feel like the NBA is translating to a shooting league. And I feel like if I can make a career out of that, that would be good. Then I start to create and help my teammates out,” the former Michigan shooting guard said.

In 29 contests, Howard averaged 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game for the Wolverines. He shot 41.4% from the floor and 36.8% from beyond the arc in his lone collegiate season.

How hard was it for him to leave Michigan and not take the floor with his father and brother for one more year in Ann Arbor?

“You know it was tough. You know, my exit meeting was tough. I’m not gonna lie to you. My brother was in there. Yeah, I don’t know why my brother was in there, now that I think about it. My dad was in there also and we were just all talking about the season and then it just came down to the question, what do you think. He wanted to ask me what I wanted to do first. And I said I wanted to leave,” Howard continued. “He said that was the right decision. So, once he said that I was good. But it was obviously very hard to leave, because that’s my family.”

What role did his mother have in his decision making process? “She was like whatever you wanna do. She was just being a mom. She obviously kinda wanted me to stay a little bit, but um, she was cool with both,” the Florida native said.

What’s it been like having such an iconic last name in the game of basketball? “It’s a good feeling, honestly. I didn’t know much about it when I was younger because I didn’t see my dad like that. He was always at the end of the bench with the Heat so I never really understood, but as I got older, and started to see the records he had at Michigan, his NBA career. I was just like, ‘Wow. He actually did something great.’ So, I don’t want to mess that up,” Howard said.

When did he first watch highlights of Juwan Howard, whether it was with the “Fab Five” or in the NBA? “I’ve been watching that since 15, 14 [years old]. My teammates would bring it up to me about the “Fab Five”. I didn’t know how big of a deal it was until I got to college. To have staff members tell me, “Your dad and Chris and Jalen, they were on this track…..I didn’t understand how big that was til I got older.”

Growing up the son of a basketball legend like Juwan Howard, Jett Howard has been lucky enough to have some phenomenal mentors in the game over the years. Who else has he gotten advice from outside of his father? “Honestly, it’s just been a lot of Heat organization people. I lived in Miami my whole life. So, like my dad would mentor people and the people that he’s mentored, mentor me, now that they’re older, Bam Adebayo. D-Wade. James Johnson. So, people like that have been good mentors in my life so far,” the former Michigan standout said.

How often did he come across Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and basketball legend Pat Riley? “Honestly, like every Sunday. I would be in the gym working every Sunday with my dad and Erik would just come in there and be like, ‘Well, nobody else is in here working on Sundays.’ I just remember that and they were super welcoming at a young age,” Howard said.

How hard was his father on him growing up? “Very hard. Very hard. But I needed it,” Howard continued. What did he learn the most from his father? “The most I learned from him probably was take nothing for granted. Nothing is given to you.”

Now that it’s time for Jett Howard to make the jump to the next level to the NBA, what players does he try to mirror in his game? “To have shades of people. I have a little Klay [Thompson] in me. I got a little D-Book [Devin Booker] in me. Got a little Paul in me. Paul George. I think those three are some that [I mirror].

It should be exciting to watch his career develop in the coming years with the Orlando Magic, who chose Howard with the No. 11 overall selection in the first round of this year’s draft.

On3’s Grant Grubbs also contributed to this article.