Dwight Howard’s tenure is often remembered for its missed opportunities.

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard, an 8-time NBA All-Star, recently reflected on his career mistakes, including his decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers in 2013. Howard admitted that he made an emotional decision, which he now regrets. He wishes he could have weighed his options more carefully, but his emotions got the best of him at the time.

Howard’s career is marked by what-ifs, and his decision to leave the Lakers is a significant one. After being traded to the Lakers in 2012, Dwight Howard had high hopes of returning to title contention alongside Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. However, the team failed to click, and Howard’s time with the Lakers was marked by disappointment.

Looking back on it, man, I made an emotional decision. It was real emotional, and I heard that wasn’t good. They said Kobe [Bryant] said he wanted me to stay, but I don’t know, I don’t know. I wish I could go back and be like, let me make this decision wisely, weigh everything out. I don’t think I weighed my decision really well at the time. My emotions got the best of me.

Dwight Howard on Above The Rim

Despite his successful career, including a championship win with the Lakers in 2020, Howard’s tenure is often remembered for its missed opportunities. He was traded to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal in 2012, but his time with the team was short-lived. Howard’s failure to mesh with his teammates and his eventual departure from the team is seen as significant what-ifs in his career.

Howard’s reflection on his career mistakes serves as a reminder that even the greatest players can make errors in judgment. His admission of regret over leaving the Lakers in 2013 shows that he has grown and learned from his experiences. Despite the what-ifs, Howard’s legacy as an NBA legend remains unchanged.

Dwight Howard names Kobe and Shaq as the greatest duo in NBA history

Dwight Howard also shared his opinion on the greatest duo in basketball history, naming Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal as his top choices. Howard believes that their combination of talent and flair popularized the big man-guard duo, making them a legendary tandem. He fondly remembers watching them play in the 2001 NBA Finals, which cemented their status as an all-time great duo.

I’m going with Kobe [Bryant] and Shaq. Magic and Kareem was a good duo but I like Kobe and Shaq because they brought a lot of flare to the big and guard duo. They made it popular, the one-two punch. When I first started seeing the duo for real it was the 76ers vs. the Lakers in the Finals... I was in 11th grade.

Dwight Howard on Above The Rim

Kobe and Shaq’s dominance was evident during their three-peat from 2000 to 2002, with combined averages of 53.2 points, 18.0 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game. They won 76% of their regular season games and went 15-1 in the playoffs in 2001.

While other duos, like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, are also considered among the greatest, Kobe and Shaq’s achievements and dominance make a strong case for them as the top tandem in NBA history.