Dwight Howard to join Black Fortress Tbilisi in Georgia

Dwight Howard Black Fortress Tbilisi Georgian basketball NBA All-Star basketball retirement

Former NBA superstar Dwight Howard has announced his return to professional basketball at age 40, joining Black Fortress Tbilisi in Georgia. This move comes just six months after Howard officially announced his retirement.

Howard, an eight-time NBA All-Star and 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, stated on Instagram that his decision was influenced by fans in Georgia. He noted, “I saw all your flags in the comments on my last post and decided that’s where we should take the journey!”

Black Fortress Tbilisi recently won the second division championship and is preparing for its first season in the top tier of Georgian basketball. Howard is expected to arrive in the capital city this October, marking his first professional experience in Europe.