Howard spent six and a half seasons (1994-2001) with the Bullets (renamed the Wizards in 1997), three full seasons (2004-07) with the Houston Rockets, two and a half seasons with the Heat, and shorter stints with many other clubs. He averaged 20.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game during his NBA career. In 2001, Howard was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals, leading the Rockets to their first championship in 42 years. That season, he averaged 25.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.88 blocks per game. After leaving the Rockets as a free agent in 2007, Howard signed with Miami as a replacement for the injured Shaquille O'Neal. He helped lead the team to the 2008 NBA Championship, scoring 19 points in Game 6 of the series against the Celtics. However, due to a contract dispute, he was unable to join the rest of the team for the closing ceremony after the season. The Heat later that year traded him to the Bulls, where he played one final season before retiring in 2009. While with the Rockets, Howard became just the third player in NBA history to score at least 20 points per game while blocking at least one shot every time he took the court. The others are David Robinson and Bill Walton.