Video: Ex-Fab Fiver Juwan Howard celebrates his first NBA title with Michigan teammate Jalen Rose

By Nick Baumgardner University of Michigan Sports Reporter

Posted on Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 3:07 p.m.

Juwan Howard started the Fab Five era by choosing the Michigan basketball program in November of 1990.

And on Thursday night, nearly 22 years later, Howard earned the famous recruiting class' first -- and only -- NBA championship ring as a member of the Miami Heat.

Howard, an 18-year NBA veteran, didn't play a large role with the Heat this season, but did see some action in the blowout win -- playing three minutes off the bench in the game's closing moments.

Fellow Fab Fiver Jalen Rose spent 13 seasons in the NBA, making it as far as the Eastern Conference Finals with the Indiana Pacers in 2000. Chris Webber, meanwhile, played in the 2002 Western Conference Finals with the Sacramento Kings and the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals with the Detroit Pistons, but also never won a title.

On Thursday, Howard -- all All-American at Michigan in 1993-94 -- ended the drought.

Afterward, he celebrated in the Miami Heat locker room with Rose -- who now works as an analyst at ESPN.

Howard becomes the sixth former Wolverine player to earn an NBA title. Robert Harrison (1945-49) won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cazzie Russell (1963-66) won one with the New York Knicks, Mike McGee (1977-81) won two with the Los Angeles Lakers, Rudy Tomjanovich (1967-70) coached the Houston Rockets to two crowns and Glen Rice (1985-89) won one with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tags: Juwan Howard, Wolverines,

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Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.