Dwight Howard, the eight-time NBA All-Star and recent Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, announced his retirement from professional basketball on Thursday, citing a desire to focus on his family following a tumultuous period marked by divorce filings and public release of emergency calls involving him and his estranged wife, Amber Howard.
Howard, 40, made the announcement via social media, stating he was stepping away after a 18-year NBA career that included stints with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and several other teams.
“It’s time to hang it up and be with my loved ones,” Howard wrote in a post that garnered thousands of reactions within hours. The announcement comes just days after both he and Amber Howard filed for divorce on Monday, and amid the release of 911 call audio by TMZ detailing heated disputes at their Georgia home.
Court documents obtained this week show Howard filed for divorce in Gwinnett County on March 9, describing the marriage as “irretrievably broken” with no prospects for reconciliation. He requested exclusive use and possession of the couple’s 35,000-square-foot mansion in Suwanee, Georgia. Amber Howard, a rapper known as Amy Luciani, filed her own petition the same day, though Howard’s was processed first. The couple married on Jan. 11, 2025, after a brief engagement. This marks their second attempt at divorce; Amber Howard filed in July 2025 but withdrew the petition months later.
Woke up today on the 12th of this month and I figured it’s time to move on from Superman! Im no super human… 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.
But now Im taking off the cape and… pic.twitter.com/SyZQAcAeLq
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) March 12, 2026
The filings followed a weekend of public accusations by Amber Howard on Instagram, where she claimed Howard was struggling with drug addiction and that Child Protective Services had removed his daughter from the home. Howard has not publicly addressed these allegations, and representatives for both parties declined comment when reached Thursday.
Adding to the drama, TMZ released audio from two 911 calls placed by the couple last week. In a call on March 6, Amber Howard told dispatchers that Howard had locked her out of the property’s gate after an argument, forcing her to stand in the rain and trek through woods to enter via a side gate. She described the incident as recurring behavior when Howard becomes “upset,” and noted the home contains “over a thousand” weapons in a dedicated gun room. “He’s a multi-millionaire NBA star, and he’s making me sleep in my car,” she said in the 2-minute, 52-second recording.
The following day, March 7, Howard placed his own 911 call, alleging Amber Howard had taken his wedding ring, jewelry and phone. Police records confirm officers were dispatched to the mansion three times in the two weeks leading up to the divorce filings, for incidents including a suicide threat, a domestic disturbance and a theft report. Details on the suicide threat call were not immediately available, and Gwinnett County police said the investigations are ongoing.
Howard’s retirement caps a storied but nomadic career. Drafted first overall by the Magic in 2004, he led Orlando to the 2009 NBA Finals and won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2009-11. He captured his only NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020. After his last NBA appearance in 2022, Howard played overseas in Taiwan and the Philippines. In February, he expressed interest in an NBA return for a farewell tour, inspired by veterans like Al Horford and Taj Gibson. However, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green dismissed the idea on his podcast, saying Howard didn’t warrant such a send-off.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement Thursday praising Howard’s contributions to the league. “Dwight was a dominant force on the court and a Hall of Fame talent. We wish him well in retirement,” Silver said.
Howard has five children from previous relationships and has faced past legal issues, including a dismissed civil lawsuit in 2023 alleging sexual assault. No charges were filed in that case.
The divorce case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next month. Neither Howard nor his representatives have indicated plans for post-retirement endeavors.
