“The other stuff you doin gotta stop” - Former NBA star Dwight Howard sued by ex-assistant over $40K wage claim amid divorce turmoil

Former NBA center Dwight Howard is facing a lawsuit from a former employee who claims he was not paid for months of work. The complaint was filed in December 2025 but began drawing attention again in early 2026 as details became public.The case comes during a difficult period in Howard’s personal life. Just days before the lawsuit resurfaced, the former All-Star filed for divorce from his wife Amy Luciani after about a year of marriage.Terrence Hudson says he worked for Dwight Howard and Luciani between June 25 and October 8, 2025. According to the lawsuit, he was hired to handle several responsibilities in the household, including security work, domestic management and personal training.Hudson states that he was promised a weekly salary of $2,000. He claims that during the 15 weeks he worked, he received only $8,137.54 through several irregular payments.Terrence Hudson says he is still owed $30,702.06. He is also asking for $10,000 in damages for emotional distress. In the complaint, he says he was eventually forced to leave the home.Before filing the case, Hudson sent a certified demand letter asking for the remaining payment. The lawsuit states that Howard declined to pay.Howard has not made any public statement about the case. As of March 2026, the lawsuit remains active in Georgia.The legal dispute appeared in the news only days after Dwight Howard filed for divorce on March 9, 2026. In the filing, he described his marriage to Luciani as irretrievably broken. The couple married in January 2025.Luciani later posted several videos on social media accusing Howard of cocaine use. In one video, she showed a bag containing a white powder while speaking about the situation.She also claimed that Child Protective Services removed their daughter after several visits to their home. According to Luciani, police had visited the house three times in recent months. She said she had tried to support Howard but chose to focus on the children.This is not the first time the couple has filed for divorce. Luciani previously filed in July 2025, while Howard filed a separate case in June the same year. Both filings were withdrawn. Mutual restraining orders between them have now been reinstated to protect their children and property.Dwight Howard’s former partner Royce Reed also commented on the situation. Reed shares a son, Braylon, with Howard. She said that concerns about his behavior had been raised before.Braylon, who is now 17, addressed the issue during a livestream. He did not confirm the accusations but said his father needed to stop certain actions, adding, “The other stuff you doin gotta stop.”Howard was recently seen attending a Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks game. In his divorce filing, he is asking for exclusive access to the mansion he shared with Luciani.Dwight Howard had a long NBA career and won three Defensive Player of the Year awards. In recent years, however, several legal issues have also brought attention to his personal life.A sexual assault lawsuit filed against him was dismissed in 2023. Earlier, in 2020, former employees also accused him of unpaid wages related to caring for his exotic snakes. That case was later dismissed as well.Also read: Dwight Howard rejects cocaine allegations amid messy split with Amy Luciani: “Never done Coke in my life”Now 40 and no longer playing in the NBA after his last appearance in 2022, Howard is again facing legal questions as both the lawsuit and the divorce case move through the courts.