Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant believes Dwight Howard is a changed man and will help L.A. in the upcoming season.
Over the course of the summer the Los Angeles Lakers made a plethora of moves to try to improve the outlook of the team. Without a doubt, the biggest offseason splash the Lakers made was acquiring perennial All-Star Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans.
While that trade had many folks jumping for joy, not every move the team made excited fans. Perhaps the most noteworthy case of this came when the Lakers signed Dwight Howard to a non-guaranteed deal.
Of course, most Lakers fans remember Howard bailing on the squad after the 2012-13 season, his lone campaign in Los Angeles. His decision at the time had many people believe he was too afraid of the spotlight and the high expectations that come with being a Laker.
Consequently, those who rep the purple and gold were not too pleased at that juncture. Some held onto the hope that the Lakers had found their next star player, only for those dreams to be squashed in a heartbeat.
Thus, whenever Howard visited Staples Center in future seasons, most Lakers fans opted to “boo” the center. They could not let go of that grudge and the fact that he did not live up to the team’s elevated standards.
Be that as it may, Howard has the perfect opportunity to redeem himself during the 2019-20 season. The Lakers (to the surprise of many) were willing to give the eight-time All-Star a second chance to show he still deserves to be in the NBA. On that note, the onus is on Dwight to prove the Lakers were right in terms of giving the man a chance to show his worth.
When the 2012-13 season is remembered, part of the reason some folks got mad was because Dwight could not live up to Kobe Bryant’s specifications. Although that is true, Bryant recently went on the record saying Howard should be “ready” to go for the upcoming campaign.
Dan Duangdao of Lakers Nation transcribed snippets from an interview Kobe recently had on “The Talk.” When he talked about Howard, he appeared confident that the latter will be better in round two.
"“I think he’s ready. He’s ready for this next time around — to do whatever is necessary to help the team be successful. And I think he’ll do it.”"
Bryant acknowledged that playing alongside the big fella was rather “tough.” It took everything imaginable that season for the Lakers to even squeak their way into the postseason.
Despite the rocky roller coaster that season was, Kobe firmly believes L.A. is getting a more polished, level-headed rendition of Dwight. This will be important given the team’s championship-level ambitions.
Moreover, the 2019-20 season is key for Howard on a personal level as well. ClutchPoints contributor Angelo Guinhawa understands that the 6-foot-10 baller is amid a “slowly dying career.” How he does while in L.A. could honestly determine whether his basketball career continues or not.
Given that possibility, it will be crucial for Howard to play with a chip on his shoulder. He must demonstrate to the Lakers that he can still get the job done, namely on the defensive end of the floor. Assuming he can tackle his role on a consistent basis, the Lakers will be happy campers.
One thing the Lakers will not accept from Howard, though, is drama. Throughout his initial tenure with the Lakers, he and Bryant certainly had “their disagreements,” per Guinhawa. Of course, the former Slam Dunk Contest champion has been known to cause friction with other franchises. Therefore, the Lakers will likely hold Howard on a short leash.
Despite his troubled past, Superman has been putting in his fair share of work over the summertime. At the time being, the dude is more chiseled than a Michelangelo masterpiece.
Ryan Phillips from The Big Lead shared this scoop of news concerning Howard’s physique. Frankly, the results do not lie one bit.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MfPPtHxuL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Per what Howard posted, he seems to realize the position he is in right now. He knows the Lakers will be closely monitoring him this season, so he has done his part to ensure he is indeed “ready” for what lies ahead.
Granted he is in spectacular shape, the big fella cannot afford to get complacent. Bryant echoed this sentiment later on during his appearance on “The Talk” show (per Duangdao).
"“The words of wisdom are always to get better. I think a lot of times as professionals, you start the season without the intention of getting better as the season progresses. You always continue to work on your weaknesses as the season progresses, so that would be my advice.”"
Kobe makes an excellent point in saying where Howard needs to go from here. Certainly, it is great that Dwight is in good shape as of now. However, what will be key for the center is to sustain that from this point forward.
If he can do that, it likely raises his odds of being a productive piece for the Lakers. Here’s to hoping he can be just that for Los Angeles this year. He may never get back to being his once dominant self, but a steady, productive version of Dwight Howard would be more than welcome.