Dwight Howard has officially retired from professional basketball, concluding a career that included an NBA championship, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and an Olympic gold medal.
The former Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers center played his final professional game Saturday for Black Fortress Tbilisi in Georgia, ending a career that extended well beyond his 18 seasons in the NBA.
Howard entered the league in 2004 after being selected first overall by Orlando, where he spent eight seasons and established himself among the NBA’s leading centers.
His most successful period with the Magic included a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals, when Orlando competed for the championship against the Los Angeles Lakers.
During his prime, Howard became one of basketball’s most effective defensive players, earning three NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors.
He later achieved his championship ambitions with the Lakers, helping the franchise capture the 2020 NBA title.
Howard also represented the United States in international competition, winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
Following his departure from the NBA, Howard continued playing professionally in Asia, spending time in Taiwan, the Philippines and Mongolia before eventually moving to Georgia.
His final stint with Black Fortress Tbilisi lasted two games, during which he averaged 11 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
He scored 12 points against Iverioni Gori in his debut before adding 10 points in his final appearance against Tbilisi State University.
Although both games ended in defeats, the appearances marked the conclusion of a professional career that began in 2004 and took Howard through several basketball leagues around the world.
