Dwight Howard retires after short spell with Black Fortress
The former NBA center ended his playing career following two appearances for Black Fortress in Tbilisi, finishing a two-decade professional run.
Dwight Howard has formally closed the book on his professional basketball career after a brief final stint with Black Fortress of Tbilisi, Georgia. The former NBA star, who will turn 41 on December 8, appeared in just two games for the Georgian club before announcing his retirement from playing.
From first overall pick to a finish abroad
Howard first announced his retirement in March 2026 but continued to explore playing opportunities. At the end of August he signed with a club in Mongolia and took part in a preseason game before moving to Georgia, where his playing days concluded.
In the Black Fortress uniform he showed he could still contribute on the floor. In his first appearance he scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and recorded three blocks. In his second and final game he added ten points, four steals and two assists.
Howard’s professional journey began when Orlando selected him as the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft. He developed into one of the league’s most dominant centers with the Magic and left Florida in 2012 to begin his first stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Over the course of his career he also played for Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington and Philadelphia. His greatest team success came in 2020, when he won an NBA championship with the Lakers inside the league’s bubble.
Howard was an eight-time All-Star and a five-time All-NBA selection. After his third spell with the Lakers in 2021/22, that season remained his last in the elite competition.
Following his NBA exit he continued to chase the game abroad, playing in Taiwan and pursuing deals in Australia, the Philippines and Puerto Rico. He received special recognition last year when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
Howard finishes his professional record with 1,242 regular-season NBA games and 125 playoff appearances. In the regular season he averaged 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.8 blocks per game; in the playoffs he averaged 15.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.0 blocks.
Photo: press material from the event
