The late Kobe Bryant did not get along with Dwight Howard during the latter's first stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012-13. However, things seemed to have changed before the 2019-20 campaign started.
According to team owner Jeanie Buss, the Lakers icon did approve of the Howard signing last summer, signaling a possible change of heart and thawing between the two parties before Bryant's tragic and untimely death in January 2020.
“I’m nodding my head yes. I mean, Kobe wanted us to win. He wanted to see the Lakers win, and Kobe came to a couple games and he was happy to see Dwight, and greeted him,” Buss said in an appearance on the podcast “Daddy Issues with Joe Buck and Oliver Hudson (via SB Nation).
Howard's performance with the Lakers today is vastly different compared to when he first arrived in Hollywood in 2012. After bouncing around a few teams following a steady gig with the Houston Rockets, Howard accepted a bit of humility in the form of a role player as backup center — unlike when the center was coming from the Orlando Magic.
The 2012-13 season did not go as planned for the Lakers, with point guard Steve Nash injured along with Bryant. Howard and L.A. were then eliminated in sweep fashion in the first round of the playoffs.
Dwight Howard soon departed the historic franchise for the Rockets, but all appears to be made amends between him and Kobe Bryant.
