Former NBA superstar center and Hall of Famer Dwight Howard has retired from professional basketball.
After a brief two-game stint with Black Fortress Tbilisi, the Georgian team announced that Howard had played the final game of his career, with the contest coming on Saturday in Black Fortress's 82-89 loss to TSU.
In that game, Howard scored 10 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists.
In his debut in Georgia, Howard nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with 12 points (5/8 FG), 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
Hall of Fame Career Defined by Dominance and Defense
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.
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.
In his 18-year NBA career, Howard averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks, appearing in a total of 1,242 career games.