Dwight Howard Squashes Fans' Hope Of Lakers Return Amid His Contentious Custody Battle

Dwight Howard is making it clear that an NBA comeback in Lakers' purple and gold colors is off the table.

This revelation comes as Howard finds himself embroiled in a heated custody battle. His ex, Tiffany Render, has publicly criticized his parenting, accusing him of being an absent father and using the court system to limit her time with their child.

Dwight Howard, who last played in Taiwan in 2022-23, remains without a team as off-court issues cloud his future.

Lakers fans hoping for a Howard reunion can officially put that idea to rest. After the team's blockbuster Anthony Davis-for-Luka Doncic trade, Howard fueled speculation with a cryptic post on X but later shut the door on a return.

Howard, who had three separate years with the Lakers (2012, 2019, 2021) and won a championship alongside LeBron James, has not played in the NBA for four years. 

Now, he is more focused on life beyond the game, spending time with his kids and embracing a new chapter. While he insists he is "always ready," he admits the Lakers are not knocking on his door.

"I'm always ready, but there's more to life than basketball," Howard told TMZ at LAX. The basketballer is not holding his breath for another shot in L.A. When asked about the possibility, he shut it down instantly, "Lakers not calling me, brother."

Although Howard is no longer about reunions, that was not the case in January. The former Lakers star publicly extended an olive branch, inviting ShaquilleO'Neal to his podcast to hash things out.

According to The Blast, Howard took to X, urging fans not to be entertained by two Black men feuding over "petty stuff." Instead, he expressed his desire to resolve their differences, writing, "You the most dominant center of all time! Come on to the podcast, and let's hash this out."

Howard's invitation followed yet another flare-up in their rivalry. After accusing O'Neal of constantly disrespecting him, Howard was met with a blunt response as O'Neal dismissed him as "sensitive."

Howard has been making headlines for reasons far from basketball. His former partner, Tiffany Render, publicly criticized his parenting, claiming he has fallen short in his role as a father.

The Blast reports that Render accused Howard of using his wealth to drag her into relentless legal battles, making it difficult for her to spend time with their daughter. 

She also stated that his demanding NBA schedule meant he rarely visited, seeing their child only occasionally. "He was never a great father. I made excuses about it to our daughter," she told In Touch.

Beyond Howard's alleged absence, Render believes his inner circle has played a role in pushing her out of his life. She voiced her frustration, saying she feels betrayed by someone she once considered a close friend.

Render recalls how her relationship with Howard took an unexpected turn after she relocated to Atlanta in 2022, following the end of her marriage. At the time, she was financially stable and settled into a spacious 5,000-square-foot home outside the city.

At the time, Render admitted that she and Howard remained flirtatious, and she often spent time at his house until he abruptly asked her to leave one morning, claiming he had plans with friends.

Subsequently, she was blindsided by a lawsuit from Howard, seeking to slash his child support payments from $12,000 a month. She confronted him, only for the father-of-five to brush it off as a mistake by his legal team.

Render asked to resolve the matter privately, but the case moved forward in court, with his lawyers proposing cutting the payments down to just $2,000 per month.

Howard later presented an alternative deal, offering her $3,000 a month if she and their daughter moved into his Georgia estate instead of purchasing her own home, which she agreed to.

Render's living arrangement with Howard quickly unraveled when he left for an overseas opportunity. Just three months after moving into his Georgia estate, she was asked by on of his employees when she planned to leave. Attempts to contact Howard went unanswered.

Render relocated to Florida, but communication with Howard stopped right as he gained custody of their daughter, Layla. When it was Render's turn, she drove to Georgia to pick her up. Though Layla was initially hesitant, they eventually left together.

During the drive, Layla recorded a video of herself crying, which was later sent to Howard's team and used against Render in court.

The athlete responded with a second lawsuit, seeking full custody. He accused Render of allowing their daughter to film for a reality show and raised concerns over inappropriate TikTok videos, escalating an already tense legal battle.

With no Lakers reunion and a growing list of off-court troubles, Dwight Howard's next chapter remains uncertain, both on and off the court.