Dwight Howard kids about playing for Philippines after Team USA Olympic pool announcement

Dwight Howard had a playful response to his non-inclusion after Team USA announced its pool for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Guess I’m playing for the Philippines," Howard, who is currently playing for the Philippines' Strong Group in Dubai, wrote on his post in X on Thursday.

Guess I’m playing for the Philippines ???????? https://t.co/CemU99YWP5

— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) January 24, 2024

His Instagram post also had a playful tone.

"A fan said “ Did they spell Dwight name wrong (laughing emoji) It’s okay I’ll play with my Pinoy People," he wrote on the caption of his post.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dwight Howard (@dwighthoward)

His post on X has at least 400 retweets and 4000 likes, while his Instagram post had at least 51,000 likes.

However, based on FIBA rules, a player who has played for a national team in a main FIBA competition after reaching 17 years old is not allowed to play for another country. Exceptional circumstances may be allowed if it is "in the best interest of basketball." 

Howard was part of the USA basketball team which won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a bronze medal in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry banner the 41-player pool of Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Gilas Pilipinas, meanwhile, will still compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News