The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Fulfilling A Dream Howard's talents gave him the op- portunity to play professionally, first in the ill-fated Global Basketball As- sociation, which folded shortly after the start of its second season, and the Continental Basketball Association. The work he put in there, and in a short stint overseas, opened the door to play two seasons in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks. "I knew once I left State and wasn't drafted that I had to figure out what I needed to do," he said. "I played down in Argentina, and it was really eye-open- ing. It was the worst experience of my life that turned out to be a blessing in disguise." He came back home, worked hard in summer league play and earned a spot on the 1991-92 Mavericks. "That was my lifelong dream, to play in the NBA," Howard said. His 95 career NBA games is in the top half of the 52 former NC State players who made at least one appearance in the league. It wasn't, however, a long-term career. He found a niche and flourished in Eu ro p ea n p ro fe ss i o n a l ba s ke tba l l , spending more than 13 years competing for top-level squads in France, Turkey, Italy, Spain and the Czech Republic. "It was thoroughly enjoyable, seeing the world, taking my kids with me to places all over Europe while they were growing up," said Howard, who has two daughters, Haley and Zoe. "It's the kind of stuff you dream about." Dreams eventually end for all ath- letes, though, and Howard found his next calling working as a manufacturing trainer for Plastipak Packaging, a global company that mass produces plastic bottles, some 40 to 50 million per week. "I just did what I always did through- out my basketball career," said Howard, who just celebrated 19 years with the same company. "I went back to work to do the things that needed to be done for me and for my family. It's how I was raised my whole life, to be low-key and hardworking. "It's how I feel most comfortable." ■ Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker and can be reached at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu. Howard poses with daughters Zoe, left, and Haley and granddaughter Riley. When he was playing overseas, his daughters often traveled with him. "It's the kind of stuff you dream about," Howard said. PHOTO COURTESY BRIAN HOWARD " I knew after high school that I wasn't going to be the best player on the team. I just wanted to come in and help us accomplish something as a team. When the team won, we all got the awards. For me, it was all about the work: what you put in is what you got out." Howard Howard was the kind of player who made his teammates better. "He was the glue that held our team together," said guard Chris Corchiani, who played with Howard for three seasons. "He did whatever it took to win." PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS