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Dwight Howard, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony for the Lakers final season
A former Los Angeles Lakers star is considering retirement as a result of he doesn’t need to play a small bench position.
Eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard, who has had three stints with the Lakers, instructed Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on Showtime’s “All The Smoke” that he nonetheless desires to play, however there aren’t any groups permitting him to play the position he desires to tackle.
“I wanna play, however on the identical time, it’s like no groups that basically wanna permit me to play,” Howard stated. “That’s how I’ve been feeling from the final scenario with the Lakers. I felt like I did sufficient to assist them win a championship to essentially deserve a spot on the crew and an opportunity to begin and get huge minutes and it didn’t occur. So after that I used to be like, ‘Man, I don’t wanna need to bust my ass for an additional complete summer season, prepare three-a-days, go on a loopy weight loss plan, do all this sh*t after which get again to a crew and sit on the bench after I can actually assist someone win and nonetheless play.’ Like I ain’t misplaced a beat. It’s simply that I sit on the bench. So individuals don’t see that. Groups don’t see that and it’s been like, ‘Rattling, do I wanna simply name it quits and do another stuff or return at it and present individuals I nonetheless received?’”
Howard appeared in 60 video games for the Lakers final season and averaged 6.2 factors and 5.9 rebounds whereas capturing 61.2% from the sector and 65.8% from the free-throw line. Los Angeles signed facilities Damian Jones and Thomas Bryant in free company over the summer season, so the franchise didn’t re-sign Howard.
Howard in April: I Love Being a Laker
Howard instructed reporters throughout his exit interview in April that he adored taking part in for the Lakers, who missed the playoffs final season regardless of having LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Howard. Frank Vogel was fired as head coach and changed by Darvin Ham.
“Do I need to come again? Why would I need to go away? I need to be cemented someplace. I like being right here. I like the followers,” Howard stated. “I might simply actually like a possibility to the place I can actually exit and exit with a bang. I’ve solely received a pair years left. So I need a possibility the place I can exit and present my abilities and expertise and do it in the correct means, but additionally win. I really feel like I deserve that.”
Howard, who will flip 37 in December, averaged solely 16.2 minutes per sport final season, the bottom of his storied profession. His per-36-minutes stats had been fairly good, although. The 2-time blocks champion and three-time Defensive Participant of the Yr averaged 13.8 factors and 13.2 rebounds per 36 minutes.
A future Corridor of Famer, Howard instructed Bally Sports’ Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on July 26th that he would “love” to play for the Brooklyn Nets in 2022-23. Nonetheless, the Nets by no means signed the previous Orlando Magic celebrity.
Howard Is One of many Greatest Gamers in NBA Historical past
Howard will go down as top-of-the-line gamers in NBA historical past if his profession is finished. He has profession averages of 15.7 factors, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 1,242 regular-season video games with the Magic, Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers.
An eight-time All-NBA crew member, Howard helped the Lakers win the 2020 championship over the Miami Warmth on the Walt Disney World bubble. The large man averaged 5.8 factors and 4.6 rebounds throughout the 2020 playoffs.
Howard wasn’t named to the NBA’s seventy fifth Anniversary Group, which was a mistake, however he will likely be a first-ballot Corridor of Famer in the future.
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