Howard gobbles up 19 rebounds in Hawks debut

He only attempted nine shots, but Dwight Howard's impact was certainly felt in the Atlanta Hawks' 114-99 win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.

The 6-foot-11 big man finished with a double-double performance, collecting 11 points and 19 rebounds in his hometown debut. Howard's seven offensive boards ultimately served as the difference-maker, as he single-handedly extended a number of possessions for the offensively limited Hawks.

Howard's 19 boards set a Hawks franchise record for most rebounds in a debut game.

Related: Watch: Howard slams home first points with Hawks

Howard's presence on defense also played a big part in the win, as he forced Marcin Gortat into a poor performance on the other end of the floor.

After falling out of favor with the Houston Rockets, many wondered how Howard would adjust to his fourth team in five seasons. The 30-year-old will need to do much more to live up to his $70.5-million contract, but if Thursday's performance is any indication, he's well on his way.