ATLANTA -- Dwight Howard was an engaging figure during the bulk of his three seasons with the Houston Rockets. His smile, personality and overall caring nature were a joy for the organization.

But it came crashing down last season with his desire to get the ball more, leading to a bit of a power struggle with James Harden, the other star player.

Howard declined his player option last summer, opting to seek better fortunes elsewhere. He eventually signed a three-year, $70.5 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks, his hometown team.

On Saturday night at Phillips Arena, Howard will face off against Harden and the Rockets for the first time since he left. While their relationship isn't dissected with the intensity of the Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant split, Howard made an impact on the Rockets, especially with young players Clint Capela, Montrezl Harrell and Sam Dekker.

"Dwight was a great guy; nobody gets to really see the type of person he is off the court," said Harrell, 22, a power forward in his second season with the Rockets. "Everybody sees him on the court and thinks he's childish or he's a big kid. He's a great guy with the time I spent with Dwight. He cares about everybody on and off the court. He has a heart that's so big. Whenever I came out of a game, we were always communicating."

Howard's personality also can rub some teammates the wrong way on the court. He smiles when he plays and jokes with fans during games. In road games, particularly in Los Angeles, where he played with the Lakers during the disappointing 2012-13 season, he's booed with contempt.

During his time in Houston, Howard would even smile at the fans who booed him. At times he would playfully encourage it.

But he also worked to develop bonds with teammates such as Harrell and Dekker, a 22-year-old forward who played in just three regular-season games as a rookie last season because of back surgery. He spent his time rehabbing, watching and learning how to become a professional.

During a playful moment, Dekker found a picture on Howard's iPad of the big man posing in front of mountains during the All-Star break. Dekker posted the picture on Twitter. Howard's cheesy smile, while wearing his Rockets' warm-up suit, bore a look that made it seem he was taking a high school picture.

Howard thought the picture was funny and rolled with it.

Dwight Howard, off to a strong start in Atlanta, faces his old Rockets teammates Saturday night. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

"That's the type of guy I am; I don't take things too seriously," Dekker said. "Dwight has kind of the same personality too, so he didn't mind I put that on. It's the type of thing a team needs. Our lives are so absorbed with basketball, you got to get away from it a little bit, have some fun."

Aside from the playful banter away from the court, Howard's play was dominant at times.

In three seasons, Howard averaged 16 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. In the 2014 postseason, Howard was the Rockets' best player, averaging 26 points and a postseason-leading 13.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.

With Howard and Harden, the Rockets reached the Western Conference finals once and were eliminated from postseason play in the opening round twice. To say Howard's impact on the court was a failure isn't fully accurate.

Howard wanted the basketball more and his usage rate with the Rockets fell to a drastic 21.7 average during his three seasons. In eight seasons in Orlando, Howard's usage rate was 23.5 percent. Even in his one season with the Lakers, Howard's usage rate was 22.2, and he was playing with a torn labrum for most of that season.

Yet the Rockets moved away from Howard's post game, instead going with more 3-point shooters, led by Harden. Howard told ESPN he went to Rockets management asking to be more involved in the offense but GM Daryl Morey rebuffed the request.

Last season, sources have told ESPN, the Rockets wanted to develop Capela, preparing him as the future starting center. In just two seasons, the 6-foot-10 Capela put on 50 pounds and has developed good on-the-court chemistry with Harden. Under new coach Mike D'Antoni, not a favorite of Howard's, the Rockets run more pick-and-roll plays.

"I've always played like that," Capela said. "For me it's always worked out, the pick-and-roll plays. I like to sprint up the court; everything was positive."

Capela watched closely how Howard handled reporters and teammates. While Howard is talkative and playful, Capela is quiet and friendly.

"I really had a chance to see a superstar on our team and how the pressure was on him and how to focus for every game," Capela said. "I learned from that, and I'm really glad to [have seen] that every single day."

Learning how to become a professional is not easy for anyone, especially someone in his early 20s. Dekker said he leaned on several players besides Howard, such as Trevor Ariza and Harden. Capela also talked to other veteran players and currently is under the tutelage of backup center Nene.

"I want to do it my own way, and I'm really glad I had a chance to practice against him," Capela said of Howard. "If I got an offensive rebound or a basket against him, I'd say if I could do it against Dwight, I can do it in a game. It gave me the confidence."

When Howard plays host to his former team Saturday, handshakes and hugs are expected. Nobody expects this one to play out like the frosty meeting between Westbrook and Durant in Oakland.

"It was great having him around," Harrell said. "He was a big help for me and I think he'll have a great career in Atlanta."