Dwight Howard announces retirement from professional basketball

Former NBA All-Star and Hall of Fame center Dwight Howard has announced his retirement from professional basketball. The announcement was made by his final club, the Georgian team Black Fortress Tbilisi.

Howard played his final game on Saturday in a loss against Tbilisi State University, recording 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 19 minutes. This concluded a brief two-game stint in the Georgian Superliga. Prior to his time in Georgia, Howard had played in various international leagues and the BIG3 tournament following his last NBA appearance with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022.

Throughout his 18-year career, Howard was a dominant force in the NBA, notably winning a championship with the Lakers in 2020. He was an eight-time All-Star, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and was selected as the number one overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.