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Dwight Howard is back in Los Angeles, but this time, his stay with the Lakers will be Kobe-free.
Remember: Howard spent one season in the purple and gold back during the 2012-13 campaign after coming over in a trade with the Orlando Magic. The Lakers were expected to be a dominant force, but instead, they saw Kobe Bryant tear his Achilles during the waning moments of the regular season, barely eked into the playoffs and were swept in the first round.
It was a truly disastrous season that was highlighted by clear tension between Bryant and Howard, tension that would continue to fester even after Howard left the Lakers for the Houston Rockets that summer.
So, naturally, here are the five most memorable moments that Kobe and Dwight have had together:
5. Their First Win
If you remember, the Lakers went 0-8 in the preseason in 2012-13 and then started out 0-3 during the regular season, meaning Bryant and Howard lost their first 11 games together as teammates.
So when Los Angeles routed the Detroit Pistons by a score of 108-79 during its fourth game of the season behind 28 points from Dwight and a tame 15 points (off a very un-Kobe-like 10 shots), eight assists and seven rebounds, it was a 2,000-pound weight was lifted off the Lakers' shoulders.
Of course, that win proved to be a precursor to nothing, as the Lakers went just 7-8 in October and November and were just 25-29 by the All-Star break, but, at the very least, Bryant and Howard showed at that time that they were capable of achieving something other than losing together.
4. Dwight Impersonating Kobe
When Howard arrived for his introductory press conference with the Lakers in August 2012, one of the first things he did was discuss his first phone call with Bryant, putting forth a rather masterful impersonation of him in the process.
Of course, this was back at a time when Dwight's reputation was wavering, but had not yet been completely destroyed, so he was still well-liked by many for his humorous personality.
During Howard's prime years in Orlando, he was one of the biggest jokesters in the league and was a fan favorite. He was also well-known for impressions, so him being spot on in mimicking Kobe hardly came as a surprise.
But, after that fateful season in Los Angeles, Dwight's rep never really recovered.
3. When Kobe Dunked on Him
Long before Bryant and Howard were teammates, Dwight was just a teenage rookie on the Magic back during the 2004-05 campaign, and Bryant was just entering his peak years with the Lakers.
…And Bryant welcomed Howard to the league with a facial slam.
That was easily one of the most vicious dunks of Kobe's career, and it was also one of the few times where Dwight, an elite rim protector, could actually say he got posterized.
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Later, in 2008, Bryant jokingly bragged about how he “baptized” the big man. Of course, that was several years before the two were Lakers teammates.
But Kobe will forever have that moment over his now-former teammate.
2. When Kobe Called Dwight Soft
Two years after their disastrous lone season as teammates, Bryant and Howard were in the middle of a battle against one another as opponents when they got into a scuffle on a rebound.
Howard swung his elbows as Bryant was harassing him, which led to double technicals and to Kobe famously calling Howard “soft.”
Of course, Dwight's Rockets were up by 25 points at the time and ended up winning the game, so Howard got the last laugh that night, but that moment has followed Howard ever since, as many have said that Kobe was right.
Bryant was not the only player in basketball who didn't like Howard by then, as the big guy with the big smile who was once the NBA's class clown was merely viewed as just a clown by some (just ask Kevin Garnett) at that point.
1. When Dwight Thanked Kobe for Calling him Soft
Ironically enough, just a month before Howard signed back with the Lakers, Dwight actually brought up Kobe's “soft” comment during an interview with Kristine Leahy, and believe it or not, he actually thanked Bryant for it.
Howard acknowledged that he “hated” Bryant for making that remark for years, but as he grew older, he realized that he took Bryant's comment the wrong way, saying that Kobe was merely knocking his competitive edge rather than his play on the court.
Whether or not Howard is truly grateful for Bryant calling him out essentially on national television (everyone with eyes could read Kobe's lips during the scuffle) is debatable. It could just be lip service on Dwight's part.
But it was five years ago, so perhaps Howard has moved past that and is simply ready to enter a new, hopefully successful chapter of his career.
