How Could Dwight Howard Be Used Better Offensively?
For him to be disgruntled with a team isn’t anything new. The controversy surrounding Dwight Howard in the final years of his tenure with Orlando Magic is something he has been continually scrutinized for.
Then, after being acquired via trade in the summer of 2012, the Los Angeles Lakers watched as Howard and star Kobe Bryant struggled to stay on the same page. A team featuring the likes of Kobe Bryant, Howard, and two-time MVP Steve Nash was a team that was destined to surge the Lakers into the NBA Finals.
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It didn’t work out that way. They barely qualified for the playoffs, securing the 7th seed with a record of 45- 37. The result in their series with the Spurs displayed how great of a failure the season was. Los Angeles was swept, losing every game by double digits, one of which was a 31 point drubbing.
Dwight Howard was viewed as the next legendary center for the storied franchise. To follow in the footsteps of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal were the expectations. It’s extremely curious as to how he would not strive to seize the opportunity to create such a legacy.
Were the lights in Hollywood too bright for him? You like to give someone the benefit of doubt, but the strikes to his reputation do add up quickly. Every place he’s been since Orlando appears to end in the same way: Sour grapes.
For whatever reason, he didn’t give his tenure in Los Angeles much of a chance, bolting to Houston in free agency after one season. He did relatively well as a Rocket, reaching the Conference Finals in 2014-2015 and averaged 16 points and 11.7 rebounds in 3 seasons.