Nobody on the Los Angeles Lakers roster has come with more qualifiers or more caveats than Dwight Howard. After leaving the team high and dry after only one season with the Lakers in 2012-13 and another high-profile falling out with James Harden in 2016, Howard’s reputation as not being serious enough or being a good enough teammate continued to grow.
However, everyone with the Lakers has painted a picture of a contrite Howard intent on re-writing his Lakers narrative by being a committed role player. According to Lakers star Anthony Davis, Howard has backed up his words with actions early in camp.
“Dwight has it on his mind that he wants to help this team win,” Davis said. “And whatever that entails, he’s going to do it. He wants to have his second run in L.A. be a great one, and he’s come in, he goes in the weight room, he gets his treatment and then comes on the court and gets his work in and practices. So he’s been about business from day one, and that’s all I can ask for for a guy to come in, get his work in and be ready to go.”
Davis was very mattered of fact during his Media Day appearance on Spectrum SportsNet that the acquisition of Howard was a key because it would allow him to play more power forward. From the sounds of it, Howard has done a good job of earning positive attention with his work so far in training camp.
If he’s able to rediscover the form he had the last time he was healthy for a full season, particularly with his defense and rebounding, the Lakers will have found themselves quite a deal.
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