Dwight Howard Concludes Professional Basketball Career at Age 40 in Georgia
Dwight Howard has brought his professional basketball career to a close at age 40, playing his final match for Georgian Superliga club Black Fortress Tbilisi against TSU. The club confirmed the retirement following the October 17 fixture, where the former NBA center recorded 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 19 minutes during an 82-89 defeat.
The exit followed a brief stint in the Georgian Superliga after Howard signed with the Tbilisi side on September 10. His stint in the country spanned only two official contests, both resulting in losses. In his October 10 debut against Iverioni, he posted 12 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks across 17 minutes.
Black Fortress Tbilisi Prepares the Final Appearance for Superman
Black Fortress marked the occasion across social media as the last dance for Dwight Howard, building anticipation for his final professional appearance.
🚨 DWIGHT HOWARD se retira del baloncesto a los 40 añosBlack Fortress, el equipo georgiano con el que había firmado hace apenas un mes, ha confirmado que el pívot jugó el último partido de su carreraHall of Fame, campeón de la NBA, 8 veces All-Star y 3 veces Mejor Defensor pic.twitter.com/M8zDwrWSfC
Howard’s arrival in Georgia capped an extensive international journey that began after he finished his 18th NBA season in 2022. Following his third stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, the eight-time NBA All-Star embarked on a multi-continent tour that included stops in Taiwan with the Taoyuan Leopards during the 2022-23 season, where he averaged 23.2 points and 16.2 rebounds per game and earned T1 League foreign MVP honors.
Global Tour After the NBA Career Concludes
Subsequent stops took the center across international competitions. In 2024, he competed for Strong Group Athletics in the Philippines at the Dubai International Basketball Championship, where his squad finished as runners-up. He later signed with the Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico without appearing in a game, then returned to Taiwan for The Asian Tournament with the Taiwan Mustangs.
His playing days continued domestically in the United States with the LA Riot in the BIG3, the basketball competition promoted by Ice Cube, in which he participated during 2025 and 2026. Although he announced his retirement in March 2026, Howard extended his career further with an exhibition appearance for the SG Apes in Mongolia prior to his final two games with Black Fortress Tbilisi.
The Career Resume of an NBA Champion and Hall of Famer
Howard’s professional legacy rests primarily on his dominant first decade in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, where he reached the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals and earned three Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2009 to 2011. He led the league in rebounding five times and blocks twice, earning eight All-NBA selections.
He secured his lone NBA championship in 2020 during his second tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers. On the international stage, he claimed an Olympic gold medal with the United States at the 2008 Beijing Games. His accomplishments culminated in his selection to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2025.
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