Dwight Howard to PBA? Macau Black Bears explore blockbuster import move

The long-running question of whether Dwight Howard will ever suit up in the PBA is once again gaining traction—and this time, the possibility feels closer than ever.

Sources told that incoming guest team Macau Black Bears are actively exploring ways to bring in the former NBA champion as one of their imports for the upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup. While nothing has been finalized, the intent is clear: the Black Bears are aiming big as they prepare for their debut on Asia’s oldest professional basketball stage.

“They are looking for ways to get Dwight and have him squeeze the PBA campaign into his busy schedule,” said the source. “It is not far-fetched and the Black Bears are doing their best to have him.”

Howard’s connection to Philippine basketball is already well established. After an 18-year NBA career highlighted by a championship run with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2020 bubble season, the eight-time All-Star made waves locally when he suited up for Strong Group Athletics in the 2024 Dubai International Basketball Invitation.

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The PBA Comm’s Cup will kick off on March 11 with the Macau Black Bears hopefully being headlined by NBA legend Dwight Howard. So far, only Phoenix has named an import in James Dickey.

No update yet on other imports as teams are keeping their options close to their vests.

— PBA insider (@PBAinsider) February 2, 2026

That stint reignited talk of a possible PBA appearance, especially after Howard was previously linked to Converge. Those plans, however, never materialized due to the league’s import height limit at the time, which capped eligibility at 6-foot-8—effectively ruling out the 6-foot-10 big man.

“I am so mad, I can’t help but scratch my head. How can there be a basketball league that has a height limit? Tell me, where in the world can you find a league that disallows big men to play,” said Howard in his TikTok video for Philippine sports-oriented scratch card company Go for Gold in 2024.

Since stepping away from the NBA in 2022, Howard has remained active on the global basketball scene, including a stint with the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan’s professional league later that year. Yet basketball is no longer his only focus.

The biggest hurdle in the Black Bears’ pursuit may not be league rules, but Howard’s packed calendar. The former Slam Dunk champion has embraced life beyond the hardwood, appearing on Dancing with the Stars and, more recently, the British reality series Inside last November.

Still, the interest from Macau suggests that the door to a PBA cameo hasn’t fully closed. If schedules align and logistics fall into place, the league could finally see one of the most recognizable big men of his generation step onto a PBA floor—something fans have been waiting years to witness.

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