Former NBA superstar Dwight Howard has officially ended his professional basketball career after making his final appearance for Black Fortress Tbilisi in Georgia’s Superliga.
The Georgian club confirmed the retirement of the 40-year-old center, who played two games with the team before deciding to conclude his lengthy career.
Howard made his Black Fortress debut against Iverioni Gori, recording 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in just 17 minutes. Despite his contributions, the team suffered a 75-70 defeat.
His final professional appearance came Saturday against Tbilisi State University (TSU), where he registered 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes.
Black Fortress lost the contest 89-82, falling to 0-3 in the 2026-27 Georgian Superliga regular season.
Howard’s brief stay in Georgia represented the final stop in an international basketball journey that followed his 18-year NBA career.
After leaving the NBA, the veteran center continued playing overseas, joining the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan before competing in the Philippines and Mongolia.
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His decision to retire brings an end to a professional career that began more than two decades ago, when he entered the NBA as the first overall selection in the 2004 draft.
Howard finishes his playing career with an NBA championship, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and numerous other achievements at both the club and international levels.
