Former NBA star Dwight Howard has been grabbing headlines recently due to persistent trade rumors. However, this time, he made news for missing out on the selection for the 2024 Olympics.
Howard’s response to the news is amusing, as he jokingly discussed the idea of playing for the Philippines. As the former Lakers star plans on playing for the Philippines in the 2024 Olympics, the possibility of the option is not as solid as it originally seems.
Dwight Howard reacts to missing out on USA basketball team spot
The board for the USA basketball recently unveiled a list featuring the 41 players who have been selected to take part in the 2024 Olympics, representing Team USA in the premier international sports event. While the list dashed the dreams of some players like Bradley Beal, it features some of the biggest names in the NBA including Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Lakers’ ace LeBron James.
The list was posted on X (Formerly Twitter) and Dwight Howard’s reaction to it was hilarious. He reposted the announcement with a caption that read, “Guess I am playing for the Philippines.”
It’s unclear whether Howard meant this in a lighthearted or serious manner, as he did not use any emojis. The former NBA star was previously rumored to be considering a return to the NBA and was linked with the Warriors, but there have been no updates on this front since.
Can Dwight Howard actually play for Philippines?
There have been many incidents across the sports world where players choose to compete for other countries when they fail to secure a spot on their home country’s team. However, whether Dwight Howard can play for the Philippines is an entirely different matter.
While it’s possible that the former NBA star may have heard about playing for another team from his teammate Andray Blatche, who played for the Philippines, it might be challenging for Howard to do the same.
Howard played for Team USA in the 2006 FIBA World Cup and represented the nation again in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he clinched the Gold with the team. This poses a challenge for Howard as FIBA regulations state that a player who has competed for a national team in any major official FIBA competition after turning 17 may not apply for a national team of another country. This rule seemingly prevents Howard from participating in the 2024 Olympics for the Philippines, but exceptions are possible, albeit not guaranteed.
What do you think about Dwight Howard’s reaction to the list of selected players for the Olympics? Do you think Howard will play for the Philippines? We are eager to hear your opinions, so drop them down in the comments and let us know.
