June 2, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA
Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard is officially plotting a return to the NBA, and he has his sights set on a familiar destination: the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a surprising yet confident announcement that has quickly stirred conversation across the league, the 38-year-old former All-Star said he’s ready to return to the NBA for one last run — and he’s targeting the Lakers or Miami Heat as potential landing spots.
“I can provide 25 minutes of dominant basketball,” Howard told reporters during an offseason basketball camp in Atlanta. “I want to go out like a champ. OK, you got Miami Heat. You got, obviously, the Lakers.”
🏀 Howard’s Message: “I’m Ready to Contribute Now”
While Howard has spent the past two seasons playing internationally and participating in various basketball exhibitions and training programs, he insists that he’s still in elite shape — physically and mentally — and can offer meaningful minutes off the bench to a championship contender.
“People think I’ve slowed down — I haven’t. I’ve been working. I know my role, and I know how to dominate in it. I’m not looking to be the man, I’m looking to help the man,” Howard added with a smile.
Howard has been vocal in recent months about his desire to return to the NBA, but this is the first time he’s publicly confirmed his interest in rejoining the Lakers, the team with which he won an NBA Championship in 2020 alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
🔁 Lakers Reunion on the Horizon?
With the Los Angeles Lakers entering a new era under head coach JJ Redick and building around the superstar duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the front office is actively looking to add veteran depth, toughness, and leadership to a locker room that’s been retooled for a title run.
Howard’s prior experience with the Lakers — particularly his high-impact role during the 2020 NBA championship season in the Orlando Bubble — makes him an attractive option. He played a key part in that playoff run by frustrating opposing bigs, rebounding with force, and energizing the bench unit.
“Dwight was the ultimate team guy in 2020,” one Lakers staffer said anonymously. “He embraced his role, held teammates accountable, and brought defensive edge every time he stepped on the floor.”
🔥 Why the Lakers Could Be Interested
•Veteran presence: With LeBron nearing age 41 and a younger supporting cast surrounding him, adding a seasoned vet who’s already been part of a Lakers title run could help stabilize the bench.
•Low-risk depth: Howard wouldn’t command a major contract, making him an inexpensive insurance policy behind big men like Anthony Davis and Wendell Carter Jr.
•Defensive presence: Howard remains one of the game’s most intelligent defenders and screen-setters, skills that don’t fade easily with age.
🌴 The Heat Factor
While Howard did mention the Miami Heat as another potential destination, insiders believe his heart lies in Los Angeles, particularly given his past ties to the organization, the city, and LeBron James.
However, the Heat’s culture, led by Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley, and their constant pursuit of tough, disciplined players, could also make them a dark-horse suitor if Howard is open to a backup role in South Beach.
🧠 What Comes Next?
Expect Howard’s team to schedule private workouts with several franchises in the coming weeks. Sources suggest the Lakers are monitoring the situation and could extend a veteran minimum offer closer to training camp, depending on how the rest of their offseason roster shakeout unfolds.
“I’m not begging,” Howard said. “I’m just letting people know: I’m available, and I’m coming with everything I’ve got.”
📌 Final Word
Dwight Howard’s comeback quest is officially underway, and he’s made it clear: he wants one last shot at a ring — and he wants to earn it in the same purple and gold jersey that helped him resurrect his reputation just five years ago.
With a revamped Lakers roster chasing another championship and Howard offering leadership, rebounding, and defensive muscle, this reunion just might make too much sense to ignore.