As has seemed to be the case many times of late, Los Angeles Lakers centre Dwight Howard was in full damage-control mode after Wednesday’s win over the New Orleans Hornets.
With a Tuesday matchup looming with the Magic, Howard told the Los Angeles Daily News that recent comments he made about his former teammates in Orlando were taken out of context, despite the fact that the entire interview is available for the world to see.
“My statement was to say the team we played with in Orlando were the underdogs,” Howard said. “Everybody overlooked us the time I was there in Orlando. I hated that. We hated that. We all thrived off that. My comments were never said to be disrespectful to those guys. They were my teammates for years. They’ve helped me become the player I am today.”
Earlier this week, Howard told CBS2/KCAL9, “My team in Orlando was a team full of people who nobody wanted. I was the leader and I led that team with a smile on my face.”
Perhaps Howard was unaware that said comments were going to cause a stir in Orlando, but Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis took exception to their former teammate’s words when they were asked about them.
“At some point, when are you (Dwight) gonna as a man, when are you going to take ownership and stay out of the media in a professional manner?” Nelson told the Orlando Sentinel. “We had a great run as a group, as core guys, and he was a part of it. For him to say things about anybody in a negative manner, that’s up to him.”
The Magic reached the playoffs five times during Howard’s time in Orlando, a run which included an NBA Finals appearance in 2009.
“It’s disrespectful more than anything. We helped Dwight become the player he was,” said Lewis, who now plays for the Miami Heat. “Look at those (conference and division) banners hanging in the stands. They don’t say Dwight Howard on them…. Everybody should get a little piece of the credit.”
With the Magic-Lakers game looming, Howard told the Los Angeles Daily News that he has tried to reach out to his former teammates to clear the air and he hopes to get things straightened out before the game.
“I know we’re going back to Orlando and they’re trying to stir up as much stuff as they can,” Howard said. “I have nothing but love for that city, and I have nothing but love for the fans in Orlando and nothing but love for the teammates I played with.”
It will be Howard’s first visit to Orlando since he pushed his way of the city last summer.
