IS Dwight Howard finally heading to the PBA soon?
Sources told SPIN.ph that guest team Macau Black Bears are looking to bring in the former NBA champion and many-time All-Star as one of their imports for the coming PBA Commissioner's Cup.
“They are looking for ways to get Dwight and have him squeeze the PBA campaign into his busy schedule,” said the source. “It is not far-fetched and the Black Bears are doing their best to have him."
Howard is no stranger to Philippine basketball. After an 18-year NBA career highlighted by a championship with the LA Lakers in 2020 bubble season, the high flying 6-10 wingman played for the Strong Group Athletics at the Dubai International Basketball Invitation in 2024.
He was supposed to be hired by the Lao group for Converge the same year, but a PBA import height limit of 6-8 during that time prevented Howard from taking his act to Asia’s first play for pay league.
“I am so mad, I can’t help but scratch my head. How can there be a basketball league that has a height limit? Tell me, where in the world can you find a league that disallows big men to play,” said Howard in hi Tiktok video for Philippine sports-oriented scratch card company Go for Gold in 2024.
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Shortly after his NBA career ended in 2022, Howard played for the Taoyuan Leopards in the Taiwan Professional Basketball League the same year.
The only hindrance to the plans of the Black Bears is the hectic schedule of the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk champion, who has been very busy with different media projects that saw him appear in the Dancing with the Stars television show and just last November in the British reality television series, Inside.
With or without Howard, the Black Bears have already assembled a competitive team for their PBA guest stint.
Among those already committed are former Star Hotshots import Tony Mitchell and 7-6 Sam Deguara as well as resident import Phoenix Shackelford to reinforce the Black Bears' 12 locals.
The Black Bears will be mentored by Kelly Garrett Richard.
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