Dwight Howard has had far more opportunities than necessary to restart his career. He's played for three teams in the last three seasons, vowing each time the fit with his latest one would be better than the last largely because of mindset. Those flameouts were far less flammable than either with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, both of whom fractured from the inside out during Howard's final season.
But this time, he swears, it will be different, and the Lakers seem thrilled to be giving him a second chance.
During Los Angeles' first official media availability in advance of the 2019-20 season, everyone associated with the team, to a man, sung praises of Howard's supposedly overhauled approach. No longer carrying the delusion he should be a priority on offense or even a full-time starter, the 33-year-old is adamant he's ready to be a role player. And if Howard's stubborn on- and off-court tendencies resurface, he's making sure the Lakers know they should intervene.
“I expect my teammates to hold me to a high standard,” Howard said, per the Los Angeles Times‘ Arash Markazi.
Tasked with keeping him in check more than anyone else, it's fair to say, is LeBron James, who along with Anthony Davis personally signed off on Howard's addition when asked by Rob Pelinka. But the way Howard sees he and the four-time MVP, at least, that might be difficult considering how similar they are.
“We got the same type personality,” Howard told Shams Charania of Stadium. “We love to have fun. We love to be around people. But we work hard, and I’m just happy to have somebody on my team that is the same exact way as me.”
At least Jared Dudley is around to set things straight, right?
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