Dwight Howard New Contract: Who Did NBA 8x All-Star Sign With?
After 18 seasons in the NBA, Dwight Howard is heading overseas to continue his basketball career. The 36-year-old big man announced on Monday that he's joining the Taoyuan Leopards in the T1 League.
The Leopards play in Taiwan, wherein basketball is one of the most popular sports alongside baseball. Howard made the announcement via the Leopards' official Facebook page.
"Taiwan, this is Dwight Howard a.k.a Superman," Howard said. "I am so so excited and I can't wait to touch down in Taiwan and start playing for the Taoyuan City Leopards. This is my third time in Taiwan and I haven't been in so long. I can't wait to see the fans, eat the food and have the best time ever and bring the championship for Taoyuan City."
What's the T1 League and the Taoyuan Leopards?
The T1 League is the third professional basketball league in Taiwan, following the Chinese Basketball Alliance and the P.League+. The league was started in 2021 and has six founding teams — Kaohsiung Aquas, New Taipei CTBC DEA, Taichung Suns, Tainan TSG GhostHawks, TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards.
The Leopards finished fifth in their inaugural season with a record of 8-22. They managed to advance to the play-in tournament, but lost to the HeroBears. The Aquas ended up becoming the T1 League champions. The Leopards will start the 2022-23 season on Nov. 13.
Dwight Howard will be the highest-profile player to join the T1 League, as well as Taiwan. Howard explained on his Instagram account why he chose to sign with the Leopards. "Superman" noted that he made a promise to Taiwan to come back and he's just fulfilling that promise.
Other former NBA players in the T1 League include Diamond Stone, Branden Dawson, Troy Williams and Deyonta Davis. While the Chinese Basketball Alliance ceased in 1999, the P.League+ also boasts former NBA players.
Some of the notable names playing in the P.League+ are Anthony Bennett, Hasheem Thabeet, Sim Bhullar, Terrence Jones, Byron Mullens and Perry Jones III.
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What is Dwight Howard's Taiwan salary with the Taoyuan Leopards?
Dwight Howard's salary with the Taoyuan Leopards is reportedly around $ 1 million per season, as reported by Taiwan News. That figure will exceed the normal salary of an international player in the T1 League. However, the Leopards used a proviso that the league approved.
The T1 League believed that Howard will add a lot of value to the basketball scene in Taiwan. It could attract more former NBA players to play there, as well as raise the competition in the league.
Howard's arrival has already had a positive impact on the fans. Tickets for the Leopard's home and away games for the rest of the year are selling pretty fast, and some are already sold out.
Dwight Howard wanted to join the Golden State Warriors this season
Dwight Howard played for the LA Lakers last season, averaging 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year was initially linked to the Brooklyn Nets in free agency, but he ended up unsigned as the 2022-23 season started.
In a recent appearance on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast with Shannon Sharpe, Howard revealed that he wanted to join the Golden State Warriors. He explained that he could help mentor James Wiseman.
"Oh man, that's perfect," Howard said. "I've been a warrior my whole life. I started out at my school as a warrior. They need a big.
"I know they have Kevon Looney and I know they have the young blood Wiseman, but I'm Dwight Howard. Wiseman can learn so much from me because he's heading in that direction of being a great big man."
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