Stephen A. Smith, Paul George, and Dwight Howard are all aware that Kyle Kuzma of the Lakers has had a long break while waiting for an opponent in the NBA Western Conference Finals.

Kuzma, like the Lakers, has lots of time to watch TV and browse social media. Or defend a teammate for that matter.

After ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith warned that Paul George is in danger of becoming the second coming of Dwight Howard, a former superstar who became a journeyman after requesting a trade from his original team, the third year Los Angeles Lakers forward fired back at the controversial host.

Kuzma pointed out on Twitter that unlike PG-13, Howard — now with the Lakers — brought the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009 and won Defensive Player of the Year three straight times, the only player in league history to do so.

Prior to the start of the restart in Orlando, the 25-year-old Kuzma praised Howard for playing without ego and for being a great Lakers teammate, phrases that people hardly heard about the polarizing big man in the last few years.

After eight solid years with the Magic, Howard was traded to the Lakers in 2012. But he didn’t fit well and only lasted a season. Since then, he played for four teams in six years before making his return to Hollywood this season. He’s led the NBA in rebounds five times and twice in blocks. Despite the regression of his career, Howard is still a future Hall of Fame nominee.

Smith’s pronouncements didn’t sit well with fans either — they also chided the animated First Take host.

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