Former NBA star Dwight Howard announced on Thursday that he will end his professional career, which has lasted for more than 20 years, effective immediately.

In his statement, he wrote: "When I woke up on the 12th of this month, I realized it was time to say goodbye to the identity of 'Superman'! I am not Superman... I cry! I struggle! My emotions are no different from those of ordinary people. Even in the face of lies, media and hatred, I choose to respond with love and keep smiling in the storm."

"However, at this moment, I am taking off my cape, retiring from basketball completely, and devoting myself to my family and giving back to communities around the world. Some people may think: 'Didn't he retire a long time ago?' But it's not that I'm leaving voluntarily, but that basketball is saying goodbye to me! I can still contribute! I did play professional basketball for 20 years, and I'm grateful for that. Seeing other players still competing at 40 years old made me want to keep going. But now I believe that my responsibility is to pass on everything I have to the next generation."

"Thank you to all the fans and supporters who have been with me all the way. I love and appreciate you all deeply—without you, I wouldn't be who I am today!"

"I also thank those who doubted me, hated me, were malicious, and tried to destroy me. Your repeated blows only make me stronger. When my documentary is released this year, the world will know the whole truth! People will understand how a sheltered boy from Collich Park, who attended the same school from kindergarten to high school, was exploited by the world after entering the NBA. Even so, I will still keep smiling."

"Since I've never had the chance to hold a farewell tour, I've decided to organize one myself—not to make fans thank me, but to give myself the opportunity to thank them for their support over the years, allowing me to pursue what I love and find joy in it."

“From now on, the 12th of every month will be ‘D12’. I will travel to cities all over the world, spreading kindness to strangers and giving them a reason to smile.”

Dwight Howard, 40, is a 2.08-meter tall, 120-kilogram center who entered the NBA as the number one overall pick in 2004. He played 18 seasons in the NBA, playing for teams including the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers.

In August 2022, Dwight Howard officially retired from the NBA. He subsequently played for several teams overseas, including the Taoyuan Yunfeng Leopards in the Taiwan T1 Basketball League, SGA Sports in the Philippine Basketball League, Guaynabo Metropolitan in the Puerto Rican Professional Basketball League, and the Taipei Wild Horses in the TAT Asia Tour.

Throughout his illustrious career, Howard played 1,242 regular season games in the NBA, averaging 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks in 31.8 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 58.7% and a three-point percentage of 21.4%. He also played 125 playoff games, averaging 15.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.0 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game, with a remarkable field goal percentage of 58.9%.

As for the most glorious moment of Howard's career, it was undoubtedly winning the NBA championship with LeBron James and other Lakers stars in 2020. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) for three consecutive years and has won numerous honors, including five All-NBA First Team selections, eight All-Star selections, five rebounding titles, two blocks titles, a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.

Image source: Internet