Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel says center Dwight Howard set a physical tone in the team's first practice of the season on Saturday.
When the media was allowed to watch the end of practice, JaVale McGee was working with the starters. Howard is expected to back up McGee this season.
Frank Vogel said Dwight Howard set a physical tone in the Lakers' first practice. When the media was allowed to watch the end of practice, JaVale McGee was working with the starters. https://t.co/2Q0GQ7XhUe
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) September 28, 2019
Dwight Howard signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Lakers. Los Angeles will waive Howard the second he steps out of line. Howard is on a very short leash with the Lakers this time around.
Last season with the Washington Wizards, Howard played in just nine games. He underwent a lumbar microdiscotemy in November, the second back surgery he’s had in his NBA career. Howard put up 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds with Washington. He’s reportedly lost 20-to-25 pounds since the back surgery.
Howard is back in LA to rebound and block shots. He’ll get his occasional touches in the post and some alley-oops from LeBron James, but for the most part, he’ll be tasked to defend the rim.
This is going to be very different from the 2012-13 season, when Howard was a focal point of the Lakers' offense and averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds while shooting 57.8 percent from the field.
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