Dwight Howard: Orlando Magic Superstar Reportedly to Undergo Back Surgery

ESPN's Ric Bucher announced today that Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard will undergo season-ending back surgery.

Howard reportedly refused to play under head coach Stan Van Gundy today and may not play another game for him if Van Gundy is ultimately fired.

The center's saga was well-documented during the season, and he had demanded a trade very early in the season. Howard created a list of teams he wanted to be traded to, including the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks.

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov aimed to team Howard up with point guard Deron Williams to form a formidable duo in Brooklyn when the team moves. These hopes were blown apart when Howard surprisingly agreed to deny exercising his Early Termination Option that would have made him a free agent this summer.

Howard has caused much drama in the NBA world this season with his trade demands and complaints. His season is reportedly over with this back surgery, and it is unlikely that he will play in the Olympics this summer in London.

The USA team will have to move forward with other center candidates such as Tyson Chandler. Chances for players such as LaMarcus Aldridge to make the team have drastically improved with Howard's injury.

Howard has sat out the last four games with a herniated disk in his back, and he will have surgery to fix it.

If Magic owner Rich DeVos and GM Otis Smith are frustrated and decide to trade him, he may have played his last game in a Magic uniform.