Dwight Howard has gotten a rare second shot to play with the Los Angeles Lakers and he's taking a different approach this time in hopes to keep his NBA career alive. The big man had been a lifelong starter before taking a bench role in Los Angeles, something he deems as his adaptation process.

“It is either adapt and change or get left behind,” Howard told Shams Charania of Stadium in a recent interview. “A lot of times, a lot of the players who didn't play as long as they wanted to, they didn't adapt and they didn't change to fit whatever the team needs. And I think that's why you have have to do and I think that's what I had to learn now to really just focus on adapting to this new era of basketball. There is nothing I need to prove to anybody.”

Article Continues Below
More Los Angeles Lakers News
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the fourth quarter.
Luka Doncic’s offseason body transformation has Lakers fans hypedJedd Pagaduan ·
Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal stands next to Kobe Bryant with GOAT signs in background
Shaquille O’Neal has no regrets over treatment of Kobe BryantRandall Barnes ·
image thumbnail
NBA rumors: Lakers’ Austin Reaves trade strategy as 2 center targets emergeErik Slater ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
Lakers’ LeBron James dumps fuel on Brian Windhorst feud with calloutMalik Brown ·
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center.
Nick Wright drops the mic on LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry debateScotty White ·
Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the second half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena
Luka Doncic reveals initial thought on living in LA after Lakers tradeJosue Pavon ·

That's a whole lot of truth coming from a now-wiser Howard. Players like Carmelo Anthony have been phased out by the league after staying true to more archaic play styles and a refusal to improve on defense.

Howard is no longer a 20-10 nightly threat as he was in his heyday, but he's still a more-than-capable rebounder, rim defender, and a lob threat that can fit into many team's schemes — providing that he's healthy enough to get on the court.

A former four-time Defensive Player of the Year (2009-12), Howard knows there's not much left to prove, having already made his mark and impacted the league during his early years of dominance.