Former longtime NBA star Dwight Howard has made his official European debut in Georgia.
In his first game in the Georgian Superleague, his team, Black Fortress Tbilisi, fell 70-75 against Iverioni.
Meanwhile, Howard had a solid debut for his new team, finishing with 12 points (5/8 FG), 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 17 minutes of action.
The 40-year-old center announced he was joining the Georgian team in September as he continues his unusual global basketball journey.
Howard's career so far
Howard played his last NBA game in 2022 for the Los Angeles Lakers, after which he continued his career outside the United States.
He played in Taiwan, competed in a tournament in Dubai, returned to the Asian market, and also tried his hand at the American BIG3 league.
This new opportunity comes after Howard joined an elite basketball circle. The former Orlando Magic star was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as one of the most dominant centers of his era.
During his NBA career, Howard was an eight-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team selection, and won the Defensive Player of the Year award three consecutive times. He led the league in rebounding five times and in blocked shots twice, while also winning a championship ring with the Lakers in 2020.