TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — After joining Taiwan’s T1 League in November 2022 and departing a year later to play in the Philippines and Puerto Rico, former NBA star Dwight Howard is set to return to Taiwan to play ball. 

This time, Howard will join a newly formed international league called The Asian Tournament, which has two teams based in Taiwan. Howard is reportedly preparing to partially own the new league and his new team, the Taiwan Mustangs, per the Bleacher Report.

Howard was previously a member of the Taoyuan Leopards in the T1 League. However, after several strong games, he took a backseat on the team and eventually left for the Philippines after a dispute over his salary. 

While in Taiwan, Howard was very positive about the country and its fans. When he left, he openly discussed the possibility of returning. 

One year later, Howard shared his plans in a post on X, in which he said he was recruiting for The Asian Tournament teams. He described the league as a place for “former NBA players, top college recruits, and elite international players” to showcase their skills on a global stage. 

According to the Taiwan Mustangs, Howard’s first appearance with the team will be in Zhengzhou, China, on July 1. His return to the court in Taiwan will be on July 26 at Heping Basketball Gymnasium in Taipei. 

The Asian Tournament is a newly formed international league, with teams based in Taiwan, the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, and Macau, comprised of players from all over the world. Taiwan is host to two teams, including the Taiwan Mustangs and the Taipei East Sea Pirates.