New Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard was unexpectedly dragged into a Twitter conversation between old friends and rivals Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal this week, who seemed to bond over burning Howard on Twitter.
Kobe Bryant’s comment that he could have won 12 titles if Shaq hadn’t been lazy in his prime went viral earlier this week, and led Bryant and Shaq to clarify on Twitter that there’s no beef between them. O’Neal took the opportunity to needle Howard, who previously feuded with Bryant during his first stint with the Lakers.
During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday, Shaq claimed he was talking about a different Dwite, and delivered a motivational message to the Lakers’ new big man.
“Listen, I wish him well. My only advice to him is he needs to dig, dig deep. Really deep. I know he’s a big man, he’s worked hard, he wants to win a championship, and he can get it done.
…. My message to the great Dwight Howard is, I know everybody’s counting you out. I know everybody’s messing with you. But if you dig deep down and play with that anger, and play with that ferocity, and stop kidding around…. Use LeBron and Kyle Kuzma, because you’ve actually got a good team.
In Miami, I was 34, same as Dwight. On my way out. People thought I was washed up when I left LA, but I dug deep down. I said ‘you know what? I can do this.’ If he does everything like he’s supposed to do – focus, no joking, no playing – just dig deep down and really, really want it, they could possibly win.”
