Dwight Howard Joins BIG3 After Hall of Fame Election, Will Play for Nick Young

Eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard is joining the BIG3 basketball league for the 2025 season.

Howard will play for the Los Angeles Riot, who are coached by former NBA guard Nick Young.

"On behalf of the entire league, I want to be the first one to welcome Dwight Howard to the BIG3," BIG3 CEO Ice Cube said. "His legacy speaks for itself, and he still has fun playing the game. We all know that Dwight Howard can do more on the basketball court than he was able to show in the NBA. So, it's going to be nice to see him open up his game and show his all-around skills on the court in the BIG3."

This comes on the heels of Howard being announced as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame's 2025 induction class.

The 39-year-old spent 18 seasons in the NBA. In his prime, he was one of the league's most feared interior defenders. The 6'10" center won Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons between 2008-11, and he was a five-time All-Defensive honoree.

Howard added to his legacy by occupying an important supporting role for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-20, when they went on to beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

Howard's last NBA action came with the Lakers in 2021-22. Unable to land another deal in the Association, he signed with the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan's T1 League for the following season. He was the league MVP and leading rebounder in 2022-23.

Since its inception in 2017, BIG3 has become a home for experienced pros either hopeful of getting on more chance in the NBA or just looking to extend their careers for another year or two.

One of Howard's co-captains on the Riot is Jordan Crawford, a six-year NBA veteran who played for five teams.

The BIG3 season tips off June 14 in Chicago.