Dwight Howard's 5 Children: Get to Know Braylon, Dwight, David, Layla, and Jayde
- Celebrity
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- UPDATED OCTOBER 05, 2024
by Tasha Mayberry
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Dwight Howard has his own little squad as a father of five children. The former NBA star, who is now competing on Dancing with the Stars, is a proud dad to three sons—Braylon, Dwight, and David—and two daughters, Layla and Jayde. Between 2007 and 2013, he welcomed his children with five different women. As of 2017, all of his kids primarily lived with their mothers. However, after the passing of his youngest son David’s mother in 2020, Howard gained primary custody of his son. “It’s a tough situation, obviously,” Howard told Sports Illustrated in 2017 about not being able to be with all his children full-time. “I should have been more responsible… But I don’t see any of them as a mistake. They’re all blessings to me.” At that time, two of his kids lived in Florida, two in Los Angeles, and one in Houston, while Howard himself resided in Atlanta, where he played for the Hawks. Despite the distance, all five of his children would visit Atlanta during the off-season, and they kept in touch via FaceTime and texts. In the summer of 2017, Howard took the whole group on a family vacation to Aspen, Colorado, where they rented a house for a week.
Braylon Howard, 16
Howard welcomed his first child, Braylon, on November 18, 2007, with then-partner Royce Reed, who was a cheerleader for the Orlando Magic while Howard played for the team. Though Braylon now lives primarily with his mother, he shares a close bond with his dad. For Braylon’s 16th birthday in November 2023, Howard wrote a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, alongside a series of throwback photos. “Wow, it’s been 16 years since you came into this world,” Howard captioned. “You’ve grown so much, and I’m grateful I’ve been able to witness it all. You are my firstborn, and it fills my heart with joy to see your wonderful smile and the cheerful spirit you carry. Whether through the good, the bad, or the indifferent, I love you immensely.
Layla Howard, 14
In 2010, Howard became a father again when he welcomed his first daughter, Layla, with his then-girlfriend Tiffany Render. Layla has largely stayed out of the public eye, but she’s appeared on Howard’s Instagram from time to time. In August 2022, she and her sister Jayde went hiking with their dad, who shared sweet moments from the trip on social media. “Make the most out of every moment,” he captioned the post. “That memory will last a lifetime.” Layla also made a fun appearance in a June 2023 TikTok video with her dad as they watched the NBA finals, joking that they were the “best father-daughter duo” while dancing together.
Jayde Howard, 13
Later that same year, Howard welcomed his second daughter, Jayde, on December 29, 2010, with fitness model Hope Alexa. Like her sister Layla, Jayde has mostly remained out of the public spotlight. In the summer of 2024, Jayde joined her father and older brother, Dwight III, for a trip across Asia as Howard continued playing basketball in Taiwan. The family visited Tokyo and the Philippines during their travels. The year before, Howard had shared a series of throwback photos on Jayde’s 13th birthday, showing her supporting him throughout his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dwight III "Trey" Howard, 11
Three years after welcoming his daughters, Howard and his partner Christine Vest had their first child together, Dwight III, known as Trey, born in June 2013. Trey has been a dedicated supporter of his father, often seen courtside during games and motivating Howard to join Dancing with the Stars. At the show’s premiere, host Julianne Hough asked Howard why he decided to compete, and he pointed to his son, who was sitting in the audience. “Really, for my son—he’s here in the audience, Trey Howard,” he said. “I always tell him, you can do all things through Christ… You can do anything you set your mind to, man.
David Howard, 10
In December 2013, Howard welcomed his youngest son, David, with his then-girlfriend Melissa Rios. Tragically, when David was just six years old, his mother passed away in early 2020 due to an epileptic seizure. After her death, David began living primarily with Howard. Lakers beat reporter Mike Trudell shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Howard’s main focus after Rios’ passing was supporting his son and trying to find the words to explain the loss of his mother. David has since attended several events with his father, including the premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home in December 2021. Howard also actively trains David, sharing a TikTok in July 2023 where he encouraged his son to “never say you can’t” during a workout session.
