You know that guy everyone doubts until it’s too late? That’s Jordan Lewis right now. People called him a clout-chaser, a YouTube baller. But once the lights hit, he showed up with buckets, hustle, and heart. And most recently, an NBA legend couldn’t hold back his praise.
Jordan Lewis turned heads after showing out at the Dwight Howard Scouting Combine, and he didn’t waste time making his mark. In his debut with a team under the Loong Lions banner—believed to be affiliated with Dwight Howard’s new league—he dropped a blazing 34 points. Yeah, they lost, 100-82, but Jordan made one thing clear: he’s not some influencer dabbling in hoops.
Dwight Howard took to social media and posted on X, hyping up the prospect. He wrote, “My guy J Lew showed out in his first pro game and he did it post 5 knee surgeries and yup he’s a PRO not just an influencer!” doubling down on the impact Jordan Lewis had on his team, individually adding 34 points to their team’s 82-point tally. Now, what’s especially impressive is that Jordan Lewis was able to bounce back from 5 knee surgeries, which usually is enough to derail entire careers.
My guy J Lew showed out in his first pro game and he did it post 5 knee surgeries and yup he’s a PRO not just an influencer! pic.twitter.com/PbtyRypSEq
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) April 22, 2025
Now, it’s common knowledge that Dwight Howard plied his trade in the Taiwan Mustangs. He had vocal about his desire to form his own league and uplift the state of affairs in Asian basketball. Yep, that’s right, read on!
Dwight Howard’s involvement with The Asian Tournament league
“I told people I would start a basketball league 2 years ago, and they looked at me like I was crazy.” Dwight Howard’s not just chilling post-NBA, he’s flipping the whole script on what athletes can do after the league. He’s leveled up. He’s a founding figure behind The Asian Tournament (TAT) league and is involved in ownership of at least one team. That’s not just rare—it’s groundbreaking, especially in Taiwan.
He’s got a real vision, too. Dwight Howard’s not just slapping his name on a jersey, he wants to build an NBA-style league right there in Asia. Something legit. Competitive. Entertaining. A place where former NBA players, top college guys, and international ballers can keep hooping at a high level. And he’s already recruiting. Guys like Quinn Cook and DeMarcus Cousins are reportedly hopping on board, and more are on the radar.
And he’s doing the work. In April 2025, he co-hosted the ATL Combine in Atlanta with NBA names like Draymond Green and trainer Dribble2Much—the guy behind all those viral dribbling videos. They were scouting talent, giving players a real shot to land pro contracts with teams in the TAT league.
What makes it all so cool is that Dwight Howard’s not just growing a league, he’s growing the game. His influence is bringing in better training, improved infrastructure, and a lot more global attention to Asian basketball. His role as both owner and former player is making people rethink what’s actually possible once a baller’s NBA days are done.
Basically, Dwight’s not done changing the game. He’s just doing it from a different spot now—off the court, but still right at the center of the action.
The post Dwight Howard’s 5-Surgery Gamble Pays Off After “Influencer” Steals the Show in Asian Tour Debut appeared first on EssentiallySports.