Basketball star DWIGHT HOWARD officially announces retirement amid divorce drama

Friday, March, 13 2026 - NBA Hall of Famer Dwight Howard has announced his official retirement from basketball, amid ongoing family drama and his pending divorce.

The eight-time All-Star, who wore jersey No. 12, shared his news on social media in a lengthy post in which he said he would focus on personal matters days after he filed for divorce from his wife, Amber Rose Howard.

“Woke up today on the 12th of this month, and I figured it’s time to move on from Superman!” Howard, 40, wrote on X. “Im no superhuman… 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.”

He continued, “But now I'm taking off the cape and retiring from all basketball to pour into my family and give back to communities worldwide. I know some of you might think I thought he already ‘retired’ but I didn’t… the game retired me! I still had more left to give ! Yeah I did play professionally for 20 years, and I'm grateful to be able to say that but I can’t lie seeing these other players still going at it at age 40 inspired me to want to keep trying, but now I believe my duty will be to pass it down to the next generation.”

Howard was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2025 after playing 18 seasons in the league. Selected No. 1 in the 2004 NBA Draft, the Atlanta native played eight seasons for the Orlando Magic.

The NBA star was traded to the Lakers for one year before he played stints in Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington. A return to Los Angeles in 2019 netted him his first and only NBA championship with the Lakers during the COVID bubble.

After the NBA, Howard played one season in Taiwan before ending his playing days.

In recent weeks, the three-time NBA defensive player of the year has been embroiled in personal matters involving his wife of 14 months.

Authorities were called to his Suwanee, Ga. home three separate times on successive days from March 5-7 for what police say were a suicide threat, a domestic incident, and a theft report.

Hours after Howard filed for divorce on Monday, March 9, from his wife, Amber Rose,  a rapper who goes by the name Amy Luciani, she also filed for divorce, TMZ was first to report. Amber Rose had previously filed for divorce last summer before the two reconciled.