Philadelphia 76ers fans caught sight of Dwight Howard sitting on the Atlanta Hawks baseline during Game 3 against the Bucks and they were not happy.
If you had a Dwight Howard sighting on your Game 3 bingo card, congratulations.
While the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks fought for control of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night, fans couldn’t help but notice a familiar face on the sideline.
Philadelphia 76ers center Dwight Howard was at the game to watch the team that knocked his team out of the postseason.
....Dwight, is that you? pic.twitter.com/cL23wED8pc
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) June 28, 2021
How many players in the NBA get bounced in a 7th game and then go watch the team that bounced 'em in the next round.
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) June 28, 2021
Dwight Howard does pic.twitter.com/PMsm5rG0Iu
Sixers fans and others had feelings about it.
Tons of NBA players are from Atlanta, we don’t see them sitting courtside at these games.
— Davis Emerson (@davisemerson3) June 28, 2021
@DwightHoward sitting courtside watching the team that knocked you out of the playoffs??? #soft pic.twitter.com/Ty87B8JLNq
— Whid Childs (@WhidKhalifa) June 28, 2021
Why the F is Dwight Howard at the game
— Anthony G (@AnthonyGremo) June 28, 2021
I don’t ever remember a player getting bumped out by a team and going to sit front row at that teams game….#DwightHoward wild.
— HELLO CHRIST? I’M ABOUT TO SIN AGAIN! (@iAmJeffSledge) June 28, 2021
Some jumped to some pretty big (often facetious) conclusions about Howard’s choice to turn up.
Dwight Howard is confirming he won’t be back huh.
— Tyrone Johnson (@TyJohnsonNews) June 28, 2021
Dwight Howard scouting teams for his next landing spot pic.twitter.com/oCfd7dZe1I
— Cleveland Sports Fans (@CLE_SPORTS_FANS) June 28, 2021
Dwight Howard about to sign a 10-day with the Hawks pic.twitter.com/wyDLpkxfqP
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) June 28, 2021
Howard had a decent reason for being there. He’s from Atlanta.
not fans mad that dwight howard is supporting his hometown team at the game 😂
— lex ♡︎ . (@theyluvlexx2) June 28, 2021
Seeing Dwight Howard at the Hawks game just blew me man. I know he’s from Atlanta, but still. 😂
— Uncle J. (@JDanso18) June 28, 2021
Leave it to NBA Twitter to make jokes either way.
Dwight Howard by God was making it to the ECF one way or another pic.twitter.com/fb6HtxiUFN
— Kris (@KrisPhoSho) June 28, 2021
Dwight Howard sitting court side at the Hawks vs Bucks game. pic.twitter.com/4irflTodZ5
— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) June 28, 2021
Is Dwight Howard sitting courtside at this game kinda like a rejected Bachelor suitor chilling in the fantasy suite in an armchair, Jerry Falwell-style?
— Sarah Spain 💙 (@SarahSpain) June 28, 2021
The Hawks upset the No. 1-seeded 76ers in seven games during the second round of the playoffs.
Howard averaged 4.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. He had 12 points in Philadelphia’s Game 3 victory but played just 7 minutes in the final game of the series with no points, 3 rebounds and 1 block.
The veteran center joined the 76ers on a one-year deal after helping the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA title in 2020. He was looking to help another team go deep into the playoffs, but obviously that wish didn’t come through.
As a free agent, it’s not clear if Howard will be back in Philadelphia next year. Now 35 years old, he needs to decide if he wants to keep playing and where.
The Hawks and Bucks certainly aren’t thinking about next season at the moment. Atlanta grabbed Game 1 on the road before Milwaukee responded with a blowout win in Game 2. Game 3 started the Georgia leg of the series with plenty of basketball left to be played.