Former NBA champion Dwight Howard has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball, marking the end of a storied two-decade career. The emotional declaration comes merely days after the iconic center initiated divorce proceedings against his wife, Amber, widely known as television personality Amy Luciani.
A Superhuman Farewell
Howard, aged forty, revealed his decision to step away from the sport in a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday. "Woke up today on the 12th of this month and I figured it’s time to move on from Superman! I'm no super human… I cry! I struggle! I feel like everyone else," Howard wrote, reflecting on his personal and professional journey. "Through the lies, the media and the hate I still show love and Smile Through The Storm. But now I'm taking off the cape and retiring from all basketball to pour into my family and give back to communities worldwide."
A Storied Career in Review
Selected as the number one overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft, Howard bypassed college basketball to embark directly on his professional path from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy High School. Over an illustrious eighteen-year tenure in the league, he amassed 1,242 appearances, averaging 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. His career included eight seasons with the Magic, three separate stints with the Los Angeles Lakers—culminating in an NBA Championship victory in 2020—and periods with the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Following his departure from the Lakers in 2022, Howard concluded his playing days with stints in Taiwan, Dubai, and America's Big3 league before ultimately deciding to retire.
Divorce Drama Unfolds
Howard's retirement announcement arrives approximately seventy-two hours after he filed for divorce from Amber Luciani, just over a year following their wedding in January 2025. The former Lakers star initiated the legal separation after Amber levied a series of explosive allegations against him, including claims that Child Protective Services had intervened regarding his daughter from a previous relationship. These assertions remain unverified at this time.
Amid the acrimonious split, audio obtained by TMZ captures a frantic 911 call placed by Amber, wherein she alleges Howard locked her out of their expansive 35,000-square-foot Georgia mansion during a rainstorm. She informed police that this was a recurrent tactic during disputes and noted the residence contained "over a thousand" weapons.
Legal Proceedings and Reconciliation
Howard's Monday filing signifies a rapid deterioration of the marriage, which was publicly disclosed in December 2024 before their nuptials the subsequent month. Amber had previously petitioned for divorce in July 2025—merely six months into the union—only for the couple to reconcile and withdraw the filing months later. In the current documents, Howard asserts the marriage is "irretrievably broken," notes the absence of shared children, and seeks sole access to marital property.
The Daily Mail has contacted Howard's representatives for commentary on these developments, though no official statements have been released as of yet.
