After a successful NBA career, Dwight Howard has transitioned to playing for the Taiwan Mustangs in the Asian Tournament. Recently, Howard faced a significant legal challenge that could have distracted him from his basketball career.
In July 2023, Howard became the subject of a civil lawsuit filed by Stephen Harper. Harper accused the former NBA star of sexual assault and battery. ESPN reported that the lawsuit has been dismissed. Harper has voluntarily withdrawn all claims against Howard, bringing an end to the legal battle.
The lawsuit originated from an incident that took place in July 2021. Harper’s lawyers stated that the two men had begun communicating through direct messages on Instagram in May 2021. Harper subsequently accused Howard of sexual assault, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He consistently asserted that the allegations lacked any proof.
In response, Howard, who recently tried to recruit Jayson Tatum to the Asian League, sought to have the lawsuit dismissed without a trial. Howard contended that the accusations against him were baseless. A December court filing approved his request to dismiss the claims.
“This is nothing more than a classic case of unrequited love. After one consensual evening together, Mr. Howard was no longer interested in keeping Mr. Harper’s company,” Howard’s lawyers wrote in the filing.
Dwight Howard’s NBA Career Highlights
Dwight Howard began his NBA journey as the first overall pick in the 2004 Draft, selected by the Orlando Magic. His career spanned from the 2004-05 season to the 2021-22 season.
Over the years, Howard suited up for several teams, including the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards. In those stints, he averaged 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds in 1,242 regular-season games.
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During his NBA tenure, the former Lakers star earned eight All-Star selections, eight All-NBA Team honors, and was named Defensive Player of the Year three times. His final NBA game was with the Lakers in 2022 before he joined the Taoyuan Leopards.
