Dwight Howard is moving his game overseas after 18 NBA seasons. On Monday, the eight-time All-NBA center and three-time Defensive Player of the Year made the news that he will join the Taoyuan Leopards of Taiwan. The announcement was made by Howard via Instagram video. Taiwan’s T1 League features six teams, including the Leopards.
Dwight Howard announces he’s headed overseas to play in Taiwan for the Taoyuan Leopards. pic.twitter.com/DpikvhnXYm
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 8, 2022
Howard spent his third NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won his only championship in 2020 to 2022. In October, he stated to Shannon Sharpe of Fox Sports that he would like to join the Golden State Warriors, where he envisioned mentoring former No.2, James Wiseman. Howard continued to be without a contract three weeks into the new season, indicating that the feelings were not shared by Golden State or any other NBA team.
In the same interview, Howard told Sharpe that being left off the NBA’s 75th anniversary team and the lack of interest from NBA teams felt disrespectful. Howard was a formidable scorer, dominant rebounder, and defensive force in his prime and he will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. But the game has moved away from big men with Howard’s skill set and toward the perimeter, a change that started during Howard’s best years. Toward the end of the season, there is still a possibility that a team in need of a post player might call, however, Howard is no longer patient.
