Dwight Howard Reveals How He Felt When Kobe Bryant Called Him "Soft"

BYAlexander Cole10.9K Views
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Kobe Bryant & Dwight Howard
Howard and Bryant didn't mesh very well in Los Angeles.

Dwight Howard recently sat down with FS1's Kristine Leahy for an in-depth conversation about his career and his personal life. During their conversation, which will debut in full later today, Howard spoke about his relationship with Kobe Bryant and how the two didn't get along when they played together on the Los Angeles Lakers. As Howard explains, both players had opposite personalities that didn't mesh well.

"I just think we were on two different levels mentally," Howard said. "He hadn't never seen a person like me. Someone who could enjoy basketball but at the same time not be so [serious]. That's not me."

Once Howard was traded from LA to Houston, the two got into an altercation during a game which led to Bryant calling him "soft." Howard says he was pissed off at the time and held some resentment towards Kobe.

"I kinda hated him for saying that because I looked at it the wrong way," Howard explained . "I think he was more so talking about my mentality...not how I am on the court. And I didn't realize that because all the noise surrounding him saying I was soft. And I hated him. I hated him for that moment."

Howard says he's since found peace with Kobe's comments and that today, he would actually thank the Lakers legend for being tough on him.

"Everybody reaches different levels of maturity at different times," Howard stated. "I think at that time I was ignorant to the level that he was at. So I appreciate you, Kobe. Thank you for saying I was soft. I didn't realize what you meant until now."

The newest member of the Memphis Grizzlies also talked about his sexuality and claimed that he's not gay, despite the rumors out there.

[Via]


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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