Dwight Howard made a surprising revelation about his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers, suggesting he was let go after an exchange with LeBron James.
During an appearance on the Above The Rim with DH12 podcast, former Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers discussed his own past altercations with James. Chalmers said he once told LeBron to “stop acting like a b*tch” during their time as teammates in Miami.
Howard then jumped in, claiming he had a similar moment with James during his stint with the Lakers. “I said that, man, and I got kicked off the Lakers,” Howard said with a laugh. “So I know how you feel.”
Howard, who played for Los Angeles with James during the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons, did not elaborate on when the incident occurred. However, his second stint with the team ended after just one season, as the Lakers opted not to re-sign him in free agency.
His comment sparked speculation about whether his exit was influenced by friction with James or if it was purely a basketball decision. The Lakers struggled in the 2021-22 season, missing the playoffs despite having James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook on the roster.
Howard played a limited role that year, averaging 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game. After leaving the NBA, he played overseas in Taiwan.
