Dwight Howard joining Filipino team while eyeing NBA return

After spending the 2022-23 season playing in Taiwan, Dwight Howard will further his overseas basketball career by joining the Filipino team Super Group for the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Championship, as reported by Shams Charania of Stadium.

Howard, 38, an eight-time NBA All-star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner, is on a quest to pursue a return to the NBA, and will get the opportunity to show off his sustained playing ability in a handful of games while participating in the upcoming tournament. 

Notably, in 20 games played in the T1-League last season, Howard, a member of the Taiwan Beer Leopards, averaged 23.2 points and 16.2 rebounds. 

Due to his impressive play overseas, this last offseason, Howard was in talks about a potential NBA return, in particular having a chance to join the Warriors for the 2023-24 campaign. However, after meeting and working out with Golden State, the big man remained unsigned. To point out, Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season, in which the veteran appeared in 60 games with the Lakers, averaging 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 16.2 minutes of playing time per game. 

Even if Howard never steps on an NBA court ever again, the former No. 1 overall pick has gone on to have an impressive Hall-of-Fame caliber career as a dominant force in the paint, being one of the best rim protectors and rebounders throughout his 18 seasons in the league. To mention, Howard finished top five in MVP voting four different times from 2007-2012, while a member of the Magic, as he averaged 18.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in eight seasons in Orlando.

In regards to the games Howard will be playing this month, he will take part in the Dubai International Basketball Championship, which is a winter showcase tournament that takes place January 19-28. As an import player, Howard will join the same Philippines team that featured former NBA players Nick Young and Shabazz Muhammad on last season’s roster. To note, even with impressive performances from Young and Muhammad, the Super Group squad was eliminated in last year’s knockout round, despite going 3-1 in group play.