He's done! Howard announces retirement, officially ending his NBA career.

It's here, the day has finally arrived.

"The Beast" Howard posted a lengthy message announcing he is shedding his superhero cape, formally concluding his playing career...

It's worth mentioning that this guy was inducted into both the Naismith and Magic Halls of Fame last year.

Howard was born on December 8, 1985, standing 2.08 meters tall with a 2.25-meter wingspan as a center. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft. Over his 18-year NBA career, he played for the Magic, Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Hornets, Wizards, and Philadelphia. His regular-season averages were 15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game, while his playoff averages were 15.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2 blocks.

As for the honors Howard achieved in his NBA career, they are countless: 1 championship, 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards, 8 All-NBA selections, 5 All-Defensive Team selections, 5 rebounding titles, 2 block titles, 8 All-Star appearances, 1 Olympic gold medal, among others.

The only regret might be that Howard was not selected as one of the 75 Greatest Players, which remains a highly controversial topic to this day, with many outsiders feeling he was unfairly overlooked.

Although Howard announced his retirement this year, his NBA career actually ended in 2022, as after that year he found no interest from NBA teams and had to seek opportunities overseas to earn money. He only played one full season for the Taoyuan Leopards in the T1 League, averaging 23.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.2 blocks, during which time multiple scandals involving romantic affairs were reported.

According to incomplete statistics, Howard's total player salary earnings from his NBA career alone reached $245 million. However, pressures from his off-court life have made his days less smooth, and he recently fell into another divorce dispute, likely requiring additional child support payments.

But regardless, in terms of on-court performance, Howard is undoubtedly a great player. During his peak, he was the undisputed top center in the NBA and is hailed as the last traditional superstar center in NBA history.

Best wishes to The Beast; he can continue to shine and make an impact as he opens the next chapter of his life.