NBL CEO David Stevenson has revealed that former NBA superstar Dwight Howard has been in talks with the league over a potential move.
The eight-time NBA All-Star has been very public with his desire to return to the NBA and could use the NBL as a stepping stone back to the league he spent 18 years in.
After departing the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022, Howard moved to the Taiwan Beer Leopards where he spent the last two years dominating the T1 League.
According to BasketNews Howard is mulling his options in Australia and across Europe for a deal that would include an ‘NBA exit clause’.
Speaking to SEN, Stevenson opened up on the talks with Howard and revealed that several other former NBA stars have reached out to the league for a possible move.
“We’ve been having lots of conversations with Dwight over an extended period of time,” Stevenson told SEN Afternoons.
“He’s seen value in the strength of the league and he still has aspirations to get back into the NBA, he’s playing overseas at the moment.
“It’s been surprising coming into this role, how many ex-NBA players are wanting to come and play in the NBL.
“At different stages of their career, some of them had a short time in the NBA, some of them had a relatively long period.
“I think it just authenticates our view that the NBL is (a) really strong league and a great pathway into the NBA.”
Stevenson also responded to criticism of the NBL referees in recent weeks after several big men had been fouled out of games and if the officiating could affect Howard’s presence on games if he were to play in the league.
“It’d be nice to see him (Howard) on court if it does proceed that way,” Stevenson added.
“The idea of seeing our stars, whether they be local stars, the next stars or those people who have had a long career in the NBA, we want to see as many as those stars on court making spectacular plays.”
Howard is in the midst of a civil court case after denying sexual assault and battery allegations that could potentially hinder a future move to the NBL or any other domestic basketball leagues globally.