NBA

Dwight Howard signs with team in Philippines after bombshell sexual assault lawsuit

Forme🤡r NBA center Dwight Howard is continuing his basketball career abroad.

The eight-time NBA All-Star intends to sign with the Philippines-based Strong Group i🐽n the Dubai International Basketball Championship,  of The Athletic and Sta🥃dium.

The deal will run through the two-week championship event, which begins Jan. 19 and conc🍰ludes Jan. 28 in the United Arab Emirates.

The news of Howard’s deal with Strong Group Philippines came after he denied sexual assault and battery allegations — stemming from a July 2021 incident with another man — last October, according to court do😼cuments obtained by The Post.

In the civil lawsuit, the 18-year NBA veteran said he engaged in “consensual sexual activity” with a man named Stephen Harper, but denied causing any injury to Harper while they were at Howard’s Georgia home in J♉uly 2021.

Howard also denied allegations of “intentional ♛infliction of emotioᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚnal distress” and “false imprisonment” as stated in the civil lawsuit.

At the time, 𒉰an attorney for Howard said his client is looking forward to “presenting the truth” in court.

Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopard dribbles during the T1 League game against the TaiwanBeer HeroBears at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Dwight Howard of the Taoyuan Leopard dribbles during the T1 League game against the TaiwanBeer HeroBears at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. Getty Images

Howard, a three-time NBA Defensive🏅 Player of the Year, reportedly is still pursuing a comeback to the NBA, in which he last played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021-22 season.

The reported new deal allows Howard, who worked out with the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2023-24 season, to stay in shape in case any NBA teams are in need of the 6-foot-10 center’s services.

The news came after 38-year-old Howard that he could help the lowly Pistons “win some games” amid Detroit’s historic losing streak — and named a few other former NBA free agents including, Isaiah Thomas, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall and former Knick, Michael Beasley.

In a post on X, of him shirtless with a bunch of International flags, captioned, “Where will Howard go?”

Howard signed with the Taiwanese pro basketball league‘s Taoyuan Leopards in November 2022, and averaged an impressive 23.2 points, 16.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

He was named an All-Star and was awarded the Most Valuable Import of the T1 Leaguꦆe for that season.

Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 30, 2021 in Sacramento, California.
Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 30, 2021 in Sacramento, California. Getty Images

Howard won an NBA championship alongside LeBron James with the Lakers in the 2020 NBA bubble season, when he averaged 6.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks 🅷in 60 appearances.

The first pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draftꦕ, Howard went on to play 18 seasons with the Magic, Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizarꦉds and Philadelphia 76ers.

He eꦕarned four NBౠA All-Defensive First Team nods in his career.

Howard sh✱ared that he is getting ready to launch a🐎 sports agency, D12 Global, in on Tuesday.