Center Dwight Howard, right, of the Taoyuan Leopards reacts during the T1 League game against the TaiwanBeer HeroBears at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on Feb. 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)
According to the Taiwan News, the incident came with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter when Howard’s teammate, Chen Hsiao-jung, elbowed rival Chiang Yu-an in the face.
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Video from the incident showed the two players throwing punches at one another before quickly being separated, but the benches had cleared at that point, with the entire team seemingly involved in the fight.
Center Dwight Howard of the Taoyuan Leopards was among 12 players ejected during the game against the TaiwanBeer HeroBears on Feb. 19, 2023, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)
Howard can be seen telling a player from the opposing team to move on. A man in a suit, identified by game announcers as an assistant coach, was also seen throwing punches at one player from Howard’s team.
"If it was the NBA, he would be fined," one announcer said.
According to the report, the man in question was HeroBears assistant coach Lin Chieh-ho. The game was delayed for 20 minutes before 12 people, including Howard, were ejected from the game.
Center Dwight Howard of the Taoyuan Leopards fights for basket against the TaiwanBeer HeroBears on Feb. 19, 2023, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)
Howard spent 18 years in the NBA, winning the NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He signed with the Leopards in November and put up 38 points, 25 rebounds, 9 assists, and four blocks in his debut with the team.