Dwight Howard Speaks On Failed First Lakers Stint With Kobe Bryant

BYAlexander Cole1.8K Views
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Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard had his fair share of struggles with the Los Angeles Lakers when he played there the first time.

Dwight Howard's first stint with the Los Angeles Lakers was certainly one to forget as his arrival to L.A. was tainted by chemistry issues and injuries to numerous notable players on the roster. Not to mention, Howard didn't have the best chemistry with Kobe Bryant, who later called Howard "soft" as a member of the Houston Rockets. Now, Howard is back on the Lakers and is having a career resurgence as he is used as a role player who can make big plays for you down the stretch.

Recently, Howard hopped on Instagram live with Lakers teammate Jared Dudley, where he spoke about his first sting with the Lakers and why it didn't work out. As reporter Melissa Rohlin transcribed, Howard said that egos and his desire to be "the man" got in the way.

"I know that I approached that season wanting to be the best version of myself and also the man. You know, I'm young, I just felt like that at the time," Howard said. "It was really hard for me and Kobe to really communicate. I think we were just at two different stages."

Howard also admitted that he cried in the bathroom of the Lakers' team plane when he found out that Kobe had passed away. Despite their differences, Kobe had a massive impact on Howard's life, and he was deeply saddened by Bryant's death.

Howard and the Lakers are playing this season in Kobe's honor and hopefully, they are able to finish out the season sooner rather than later.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.
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