Washington Wizards center Dwight Howard is reportedly taking a positive step towards returning to the court this season.
According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, Howard will return to Washington, DC Wednesday to begin on-court work.
Howard was in Atlanta rehabbing after he underwent back surgery in November. The timeline for his return was 2-3 months initially.
The Wizards will convene for practice on Wednesday after the All-Star break. They are currently 24-34 on the season and three games out of eighth in the Eastern Conference.
The Wizards have been hampered by injuries all season, including John Wall who underwent season-ending heel surgery in January.
Howard, 33, is not the feared rim protector he once was, however, Washington is in need of any help on the defensive end, as they ranked 26th in defensive rating.
While Howard has been out, the young Thomas Bryant has emerged as a fixture in the Wizards’ rotation, averaging 9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 19.1 minutes per game while shooting 63.8 percent from the field in 48 games (42 starts).
If Washington is able to get Howard back, he adds to the frontcourt depth as the Wizards make a push for the postseason.
