Dwight Howard Announces NBA Retirement

Dwight Howard, the former NBA champion and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, announced his retirement from professional basketball on March 12, 2026, marking the end of a 20-year career that included 18 seasons in the league and a 2020 title with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 40-year-old center, who had not played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season, shared the news in an emotional social media post, stating he was stepping away to focus on his family and community initiatives amid ongoing personal challenges, including a recent divorce filing and a lawsuit from a former employee.

In his announcement on X, formerly Twitter, Howard reflected on his journey, writing, "Woke up today on the 12th of this month and I figured its time to move on from Superman! Im no super human I cry! I struggle! I feel like everyone else. Through the lies, the media and the hate I still show love and Smile Through The Storm. But now Im taking off the cape and retiring from all basketball to pour into my family and give back to communities worldwide." He noted that while he felt he had more to offer, "the game retired me," and credited other players in their 40s for inspiring him to persist until...