Dwight Howard recently opened up about his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and his complicated relationship with Kobe Bryant. Speaking on 7PM in Brooklyn, a Wave Sports + Entertainment Original, with Carmelo Anthony, the former NBA center detailed the challenges he faced, both physically and mentally, during his tenure in Los Angeles.
Howard revealed that his dynamic with Bryant was strained from the start, making it difficult to connect with the Lakers legend. “We flew together. We was on the same plane and we didn’t even talk together,” Howard said. “I’m like, ‘Yo, it’s just me, you, and our families, and we can’t speak to each other?'”
He recalled feeling isolated, even in the locker room, where Bryant distanced himself. “We’re supposed to be next to each other. They put all the teammates together, and he over here. I didn’t know what was going on,” Howard admitted.
Beyond the interpersonal struggles, Howard pushed himself to play despite serious injuries. He had back surgery before his Lakers debut and was advised to sit out for a year, but he returned in just four months. He later tore his labrum but continued playing, hoping to prove his toughness.
Howard now believes his decision to play through injuries was a mistake. “That was probably my worst decision, trying to play through all those injuries just to prove to fans and people that I’m not who they trying to portray me as,” he said.
His first stint with the Lakers ended after one season in 2013, but he returned in 2019 and helped Los Angeles win a championship. Despite their past differences, Howard has spoken positively about Bryant in recent years, emphasizing the respect he always had for him.
