Former NBA star Dwight Howard says his estranged wife, Amber, also known professionally as Amy Luciani, misled him into marriage by allegedly lying about her fertility, according to new court filings obtained by TMZ.

Howard made the claims while asking a court for a protective order against Amber, saying their relationship had been unstable for years before he filed for divorce. Amber is denying Howard’s allegations, according to TMZ.

What Dwight Howard alleges in court

In the filing, Howard accused Amber of launching what he described as a “crusade of lies and defamation” against him. He claimed those alleged statements damaged his reputation and cost him professional opportunities.

Howard also alleged that Amber spread false claims about him to people close to him, including:

  • His family
  • His friends
  • The mothers of his children
  • Law enforcement

The filing centers heavily on Howard’s accusation that Amber had a “history of lying and manipulating” him. He claimed she knew she was unable to have children but “denied that fact and actively lied about” it, which he says led to their marriage.

That is a serious allegation, and at this stage it is exactly that: an allegation in a divorce-related legal dispute. The courts, not press releases or Instagram captions, get the privilege of sorting through the paperwork.

Howard denies cocaine allegation

Howard also directly denied Amber’s claim that he used cocaine. In the filing, he said he had never used cocaine in his life.

Howard said the accusation cost him work. For a former NBA player whose public image is part of the business model, that is not a small complaint. Reputation is not a side issue when endorsements, appearances, media work, and other post-playing opportunities are on the table.

The couple agreed to stay apart

A couple of days after the protective order request, Howard and Amber reached an agreement setting boundaries between them.

Under the deal, they agreed:

  • Not to come within 100 yards of each other
  • Not to harass each other on social media

Howard was also awarded sole use of his Georgia mansion. He will pay Amber $10,000 to help cover her move.

The agreement does not settle the divorce or the competing allegations. For now, it sets the ground rules: stay apart, do not harass each other online, and one person keeps the house while the other moves out.