3. Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard didn’t exactly have a pleasant experience his first time around with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is doing his best to show that is in the past. His second stint with the Lakers is proving to be far more then the Lakers has expected.
He is seizing the role as the backup center and is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Granted his stat lines are down, but that doesn’t account for how efficient he has become. In 31 games this year he is shooing an absurd 75.4% from the floor.
His eFG% is a career-high at 75.9% and his TS% is also a career-high at 70.5%, his efficiency in 20 minutes per game is astronomical. According to advanced stats, his offensive rating sits at 112.3 and his defensive rating at 103.9, good for a +8.4 net-rating. He is making an impact at both ends and helping the Lakers bench keep up with the starters getting a rest.
When the Lakers signed Howard to a non-guaranteed contract in wake of the DeMarcus Cousins injury. They didn’t expect to receive this type of impact and Howard wasn’t even a lock to make the roster. He has since shrugged off all the criticism and is playing rejuvenated basketball in Los Angeles.
He is healthy, he looks happy again playing basketball and those two things combined are a welcome sight. If Howard can continue his great play he will help this Lakers team as the season starts to get more important each passing day. The Lakers got an absolute steal bringing him back for a second try.