(Photo: Reuters/Jim Urquart)Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) is defended by Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Utah, November 7, 2012.

Dwight Howard's custody fight over his son is reportedly becoming more intense, as the Los Angeles Lakers star clashes with former girlfriend Royce Reed in what appears to be becoming an increasingly expensive court battle.

Reed has highlighted the immense earnings Howard receives for being one of the top basketball players in the country, so the former VH1 Basketball Wives star is pushing for him to be ordered to pay her legal costs as well as his own during their ongoing court battle.

Some media reports are placing her legal bills as likely to be as much as $100,000 before the matter is resolved.

According to celebrity rumor site TMZ, Howard wants sole custody of his son, but Reed is arguing that the playing field is not even due to his huge monetary worth.

TMZ has reported, "According to the docs, Royce claims that Dwight rakes in over $1.3 million per month and should cough up the cash, otherwise, the fight's not fair. She claims he can hire an army of lawyers … while she'll get buried in bills and eventually have to drop out."

The celebrity website also adds: "In the docs, her lawyer says she's already racked up a $44,113.50 bill and is expected to tack on another $60k plus if she continues to fight … for a grand total of $106,621.80."

Dwight Howard, formerly with the Orlando Magic was traded to the Lakers in August 2012.

Neither Howard nor Reed appears likely to give up custody of their son to the other anytime soon, and the likelihood of a mutual agreement being reached between the parties out of court also seems unlikely if media reports are to be believed. Which means a long and drawn-out court custody battle is on the cards, with lawyers charging both sides for every inch of progress towards the eventual resolution. It is likely to become very expensive.