One of the most dominant big men of his generation,Dwight Howard’s résumé includes a 2020 NBA title with the LA Lakers, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and eight All-Star and All-NBA selections.
Dwight Howard is officially calling it a career.
The Hall of Famer announced his retirement in a lengthy social media post, saying that while he still believes he had “more left to give,” it was time to move on.
“Woke up today on the 12th of this month and I figured it’s time to move on from Superman,” Howard, who last played in the NBA in 2022 during his third stint with the LA Lakers, stared off on Instagram.
He added: “But now I’m taking off the cape and retiring from all basketball to pour into my family and give back to communities worldwide.”
The 40-year-old reflected on his nearly two-decade NBA career, acknowledging that while he briefly considered continuing to play — inspired by several veterans still competing into their 40s — he ultimately felt the time had come to pass the torch.
“I still had more left to give. Seeing these other players still going at it at age 40 inspired me to keep trying. But now I believe my duty will be to pass it down to the next generation,” Howard admitted.
One of the most gifted athletes at the center position of his generation, Howard finished his career with 19,485 points, 14,627 rebounds, and 2,228 blocks.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025, recognizing a career that included eight NBA All-Star selections, eight All-NBA team honors — five of them First Team — and three Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Howard began his NBA journey as the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, selected by the Orlando Magic straight out of high school.
He spent eight seasons in Orlando and led the franchise to the 2009 NBA Finals, becoming one of the league’s most dominant interior forces during his prime.
Howard later played for the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, and with the Lakers across multiple stints, eventually winning an NBA championship with the Purple-and-Gold squad in 2020.
He also became a fan favorite during the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, memorably donning a Superman cape as he soared to the title during All-Star Weekend in New Orleans.
Howard also played for Strong Group Athletics in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship in 2024, helping the team finish runner-up.
Although he did not receive a traditional farewell tour, the five-time NBA rebounding champion said he plans to celebrate the next chapter of his life in a different way.
“Since I didn’t get a chance to ever have a farewell tour, I decided to create a tour not for fans to appreciate me but for me to appreciate them for supporting me all these years and giving me a reason to smile doing what I love,” Howard wrote.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.