Lakers center Dwight Howard, who had been weighing whether or not to participate in the NBA’s restart this summer, has decided to play, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter).
If Howard had opted out of the NBA’s return, he would have forfeited approximately 1.1% of his salary for each game missed, up to a maximum of 14 games. Instead, the veteran big man – who will join the team in Orlando on Thursday – will receive his remaining game checks and will donate them to his non-profit campaign Breathe Again, according to Charania.
Like teammate Avery Bradley, who opted not to participate in the NBA’s restart, Howard talked last month about not wanting the resumed season to draw attention away from social justice movements. He has also been going through personal issues unrelated to social justice, including the recent death of his six-year-old son’s mother.
With Howard on board, it appears the Lakers will be missing just one player (Bradley) from a roster that took a Western Conference-best 49-14 record into the NBA’s hiatus in March. J.R. Smith was signed last week as a substitute player to replace Bradley.
An eight-time All-Star, Howard figures to share center duties this summer with JaVale McGee and Anthony Davis. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year has enjoyed a strong bounce-back season with the Lakers in 2019/20 after a lost year in Washington. In 62 games (19.2 MPG), Howard has averaged 7.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 1.2 BPG with a .732 FG%.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Because he knows the Lakers window is this year only.
This will be his last chance of getting a ring. Good luck Dwight.
I too believe a team with two top 5 players and lots of cap room only has a 1 year window. You clowns are funny.
LBJ will be 36 by the end of the year. Even if he is still a top 5 player, he won’t be for much longer. The short layoff before next season begins will hurt him more than anyone. And most of that cap room will be needed to re-sign Davis after the season, there won’t be that much left afterwards.
Better than being stuck with two of the biggest playoff chockers
What is a chocker?
A sidewalk artist!
Cool. Talk to me when his play actually declines. They will still have cap room after re-signing Davis. But sure tell me how much better the Rockers are with the 2 most toxic playoff chokers in the sport
Bron has choked his fair share, but he has adapted at a higher level that is unprecedented. He’s still top 4, but he is at that age that one injury is all it takes to dethrone him. It happened to MJ and Kobe.
He’s already had injuries. He heals up freakishly.
Speaking from personal experience, it is a lot easier to heal and rehab at 29 than at 36. Father Time is now and always will be undefeated. Some people can make it a good game with him, but ultimately they lose too.
What dethroned mj? He walked away.. he came back with the wizards and still made 2 all stars and averaged over 20 ppl..
Among Top 8 teams Lakers salary is lowest
After signing free agents
Clippers
76ers
Nets
Warriors
Raptors
Celtics
Bucks
Lebron is used to short layoffs.. between all the playoff appearances, finals appearances, olympics.. lebron is a machine.. always working.. now the fun begins.. playoff lebron, engaged
Time, the cruel Mistress
Takes All from Everyone
Leaves us all as Dust
Rome, Egypt, the Khans
All held sway over the World
Now lie in Ruin
Bird, Shaquille, MJ
Crossing the League like a Sun
Their Night has Fallen
Twilight for LeBron
How long until Darkness falls?
Only Time will tell.
So…how is that English degree working out for you?
An altered and hykued Nights In White Satin Lament?
That orb rules the night
But we decide which is right
And which is an ill.
Hi dad!!!!!
Once again, Dwight Howard proves to be all talk. It’s his right to make the choice, but if you are going to run your mouth, you should at least back it up.
Unless Warriors use 17 million TE，trade 2 valuable picks
Warriors won’t win any more champions
Clippers and lakers have better depth