Dwight Howard's lone season with the Los Angeles Lakers did not end up as most expected. A starting lineup featuring Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, and Howard was thought to be unbeatable.

Instead, head coaching problems, an unstable offensive plan, numerous injuries, and lack of chemistry had the Lakers barely making the NBA playoffs with a 45-37 record. As the 7th seed in the tough Western Conference, they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. During the regular season, Howard averaged 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks with 57.8 shooting percentage.

Now as a member of the Charlotte Hornets, Dwight Howard returned to Staples Center to play the Lakers five years after leaving Los Angeles in NBA free agency. Lakers fans sure remember that disappointing season, as boos emerged from the crowd. Howard apparently noticed them; it would be almost impossible not hearing thousands of people booing you that loud. Alex Vejar, a Lakers beat writer for AVP Sports, reported an exchange between Howard and a fan after the game:

As @DwightHoward exited the tunnel after the game, a fan yelled at him, “Come to LA please!”

His reply?

“Y’all don’t want me.”

Howard probably does not have any intentions of coming back anyway, as he is having his best season in quite some time. He's averaging 15.7 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game with 53.5 field goal percentage are not bad at all for a player who was considered a team chemistry killer and a lot of teams hesitated from adding him to their rosters.

Hornets head coach Steve Clifford is a big reason why Howard is now in Charlotte, as Clifford was an assistant coach in Orlando, back when Howard was an athletic freak and a defensive monster. Clifford definitely cannot turn back the clock and ask Howard to play like he did in his Magic days, but adding Howard to his defensive-minded team helps both parties as their previous experience in Orlando makes the transition to the team easier. And it is paying off.