Dwight Howard gets driver’s license suspended after multiple citations

Former Lakers center Dwight Howard is facing minor legal trouble.

After running a red light in July, according to TMZ.com, Howard’s driver’s license has been suspended in the state of Florida.

Howard had nine such infractions in 10 months in 2012 -- the recent 10th triggering the suspension.

According to Reuters, Howard also has four speeding tickets on his record, 12 citations for non-paid highway tolls. The Houston Rockets center also was cited for not changing the address on his license.

Howard, who signed with Houston last summer for $88 million, should have little trouble getting his license reinstated -- as the $285 fine should be well within his means.

After beginning his career by playing eight seasons in Orlando with the Magic, Howard may not be the most popular figure in the state -- leaving the team in an off-season trade to the Lakers after a contentious relationship with the front office and former head coach Stan Van Gundy.

While playing through the 2012-13 season with the Lakers, Howard primarily relied on a personal driver -- escaping Los Angeles without major (or minor) incident with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The same can’t be said of Howard during his run with the team, clashing with both Kobe Bryant and then coach Mike D’Antoni.

Despite injuries, the Lakers did manage to finish the second half of the season well, ending the year as the seventh-seeded team in the Western Conference playoffs with a record of 45-37 -- although an Achilles’ tendon injury to Kobe Bryant dimmed the Lakers’ postseason hopes.

The team was swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. Howard was ejected in the final game of the series for arguing a call and left L.A. three months later for the Rockets.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.