Once one of the best centers in the NBA, Dwight Howard, has an opportunity to play in the league again as the Los Angeles Lakers offered him a deal following DeMarcus Cousins’ ACL injury. Howard is feeling blessed for the second chance after his life hit rock bottom this summer.
“It didn’t have anything to do with basketball,” Howard said at an introductory conference call with reporters. “It was just stuff going [on] in my personal life. Mentally, physically and spiritually. It had nothing to do with me as a basketball player or anything like that. It was just personal things that I had to deal with which made me stronger.”
Howard already represented the Lakers in the 2012-13 campaign, but it was a year to forget for both Los Angeles and Howard. He decided not to re-sign with the team the following summer and opted to move to the Houston Rockets instead. Still, Dwight knows that he owes the Lakers fans and community, and is grateful for the chance to make amends this time around.
“I never had any ill will toward any of the fans here in L.A.,” Howard said. “I loved this city from the first moment I’ve been here and started playing in the NBA. It was never nothing against anybody here [on] the team or anything like that, it was just a decision I made. I love this city. I love playing in L.A. I’m back here, so none of that stuff in the past even really matters to me anymore. I think we all have a fresh start.”
"I'm looking forward to giving 110%." @DwightHoward /// #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/9s7aud247Q
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 4, 2019
“It’s been six years, in 2020 it’ll be seven years. … I’m big on numbers. Seven is for new beginnings … I’m looking forward to having a fresh start with the fans and stuff like that. Show them my only dedication is to putting another banner up here in Los Angeles.”
Howard had a lot of injury problems in the past few years, and he changed several NBA teams in the process, failing to settle in.
Dwight Howard working out as a Laker. pic.twitter.com/dPHuUxPNRq
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 5, 2019
“This summer was very important to me as an individual,” he said. “Got a chance to really isolate myself. Not from people but just really isolate, really try to get alone and become one with myself and become more balanced. This summer was really, really important for me.”
