Atlanta, Georgia - Former NBA star Dwight Howard has firmly denied the accusations made by Stephen Harper, a Georgia man who alleges he was sexually assaulted by Howard and another individual. In a response filed by Howard's attorney this week, the former basketball player described the encounter as consensual, requesting that the case be dismissed.

The civil lawsuit was filed by Harper in July, claiming assault and battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. No criminal charges have been filed against Howard at this point.

According to Harper's lawsuit, he and Howard initially connected through Instagram and engaged in explicit text messages before arranging to meet at Howard's home in the Atlanta suburbs on July 19, 2021. However, during the journey to Howard's residence, Harper claims that the athlete requested the involvement of another person in their sexual encounter, which Harper rejected.

Upon arriving at Howard's home, Harper alleges that they were joined by an individual dressed as a woman who identified only as "Kitty." Despite Harper's resistance, he claims that both Howard and Kitty forced him to participate in sexual activity, leaving him feeling violated and humiliated.

In his response, Howard vehemently denied the allegations and maintained that the sexual encounter was consensual between all three parties involved. He has requested a summary judgment, with court costs and attorney fees to be assessed against Harper.

The incident was reported by Harper to the Gwinnett County police nearly a year later, on July 15, 2022. However, the case was suspended due to a lack of participation from the alleged victim after several attempts to schedule a formal interview.

Dwight Howard, 37, is a former NBA All-Star and one of the league's most accomplished centers. Throughout his 18-year professional career, he played for multiple franchises, including the Orlando Magic, with whom he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft, and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won an NBA title in the 2019-20 season.

Though highly regarded for his basketball skills, Howard has had a reputation for being a disruptive presence in the locker room, resulting in multiple team changes over his last six seasons in the league. Howard most recently played in Taiwan during the 2022-2023 season.

The outcome of the lawsuit remains uncertain as the legal process unfolds. The Associated Press typically refrains from identifying individuals who claim to be victims of sexual assault unless they have consented to be named publicly.