Kobe Bryant was known for his resilience and dedication to basketball. He was a lifelong student of the game, expecting his peers and teammates to emulate his dedication. However, when in 2012, the Lakers acquired Dwight Howard as their new center in a deal that would earn him $19,536,360 annually, Kobe was skeptical. The Lakers legend went on to dismiss Howard immediately after a phone call with him following the trade.
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In 2012, Dwight Howard was traded in a four-team deal from the Orlando Magic during the final year of his contract. The Magic were trying to acquire younger players to rebuild their squad through this trade. Orlando acquired six players and five future draft picks through this four-team deal.
Jalen Rose revealed when Kobe Bryant predicted Dwight Howard’s Lakers’ future
In an interview clip uploaded by Airball Shorts, Jalen Rose revealed an interesting Kobe Bryant incident involving Dwight Howard. The All-Star center in 2012 joined the Lakers in a $19,536,630 per year contract.
However, Kobe had predicted that this trade was not a good investment for the Lakers. For the Mamba, Howard wasn’t the right pick for the Lakers in their pursuit of championships. Kobe could comprehend this right after getting annoyed by Howard’s questions on the call. In the interview, Jalen Rose narrated:
“The day he [Kobe Bryant] heard Dwight Howard was gonna get traded to them [Los Angeles Lakers]. So, Kobe [would] take the call and I might have heard some of the conversations. And I might have heard Dwight asking about LA and some off court things. And Kobe got off the phone, and said, ‘This sh*t ain’t gon’ work.’ That’s exactly what he said. This is before even he laced up with him one time. He said ‘His head ain’t right. M*f*, I’m here to help you get championships.'”
Dwight Howard played for only one season with the Lakers after the trade, and his stint was rather disappointing, just as Kobe had predicted. Howard averaged 3.6 fouls per game alongside 3.2 turnovers, making only 50.4% of his free throws. He was traded the next season to the Houston Rockets, where he spent three seasons.
Dwight Howard’s second stint at the Los Angeles Lakers was a better chance
Dwight Howard received a second chance to prove his worth at the Lakers. However, the team’s star power had changed this time, and he was playing alongside LeBron James. Replacing DeMarcus Cousins, Howard signed a $2.6 million veteran’s minimum contract with the Lakers in 2019.
This season was fulfilling for the center, helping the team win a championship in 2020. In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Howard put in a show with his performance, scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds within 23 minutes. He was crucial in the Lakers’ 4-2 Final series win against the Miami Heat, earning his first NBA championship.
