The Los Angeles Lakers have always been known for their dominance in the paint, from legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal to the modern big men who carried the tradition forward. Among them, Dwight Howard’s time in Los Angeles stands out for its highs and lows. His career with the franchise was marked by multiple stints, dramatic departures and a single unforgettable championship. The most surprising chapter came after the 2020 title, when Howard expected to return but was left without a contract. His unexpected exit showed how quickly fortunes can change in the NBA, even for proven champions.
Howard’s First Stint With the Lakers
Howard joined the Lakers in 2012-13, still considered the league’s best center. The roster, featuring Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Steve Nash, was built to contend, but injuries and chemistry problems quickly derailed the plan. The team exited in the first round, and Howard grew frustrated. In free agency, the Lakers tried to keep him, even putting up billboards across Los Angeles urging him to stay. Despite those efforts, he signed a maximum deal with the Houston Rockets, seeking a clean slate. For many analysts making NBA picks at the time, his choice was seen as one of the defining moves of that offseason.
By 2019, Howard’s career looked very different. Once a perennial All-Star, injuries and declining production lowered his value, while concerns about locker-room fit pushed teams away. The Lakers, in need of depth behind Anthony Davis, gave him another shot. Howard embraced a new role, focusing less on scoring and more on rebounding, defens,e and energy. The move worked: across 69 games, he averaged 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in under 19 minutes while shooting over 70%. His efficiency earned him recognition in Sixth Man of the Year votin,g while his defense became a key piece of the Lakers’ success.
A Key Role in the 2020 Championship
In the playoffs, Howard’s role became vital. He battled elite centers, secured rebounds, and protected the rim when Davis shifted to power forward. Accepting fewer touches kept the Lakers balanced while his energy lifted the team in tough stretches. The Lakers captured the 2020 NBA title in the Orlando bubble, with Howard as a key piece. For him, it was redemption. Once thought finished, he proved he could still contribute to a champion. His turnaround was one of the season’s top stories, with sites like https://www.oddstrader.com/ noting how his unexpected impact helped influence betting odds in the Lakers’ favor.
Despite that run, Howard’s next stint ended before it began. In the 2020 offseason, he expected to re-sign and was told a deal was ready. Believing he was returning, he celebrated publicly, only to learn the offer was withdrawn. The reversal shocked him. After embracing a team-first role and putting wins over stats, he was disappointed to be excluded from defending the title. With no contract from Los Angeles, he signed a one-year minimum deal with the Philadelphia 76ers to back up Joel Embiid. Though he filled the role, the sting of missing a title defense remained.
A Missed Chance for a Dynasty
Howard believed the Lakers had a real chance to build a dynasty following their 2020 success. Continuity seemed the best path forward with LeBron James and Anthony Davis at the helm. Instead, the roster was reshaped, depth pieces were lost, and the chemistry that defined the championship run disappeared. Injuries to key players only made matters worse. The Lakers never recaptured the same dominance, while their chance to establish a multi-year championship window slipped away. For Howard, not being part of a title defense felt like a missed opportunity, both for him personally and the franchise.
Howard returned once more in 2021. Alongside Carmelo Anthony, he represented one of several veteran additions the Lakers hoped would support James and Davis. The franchise also traded for Russell Westbrook, which cost them valuable depth and flexibility. Howard delivered reliable minutes, but the overall roster struggled with fit and injuries. The team finished with a disappointing 33-49 record, missing the playoffs entirely. For Howard, it was another rollercoaster year in Los Angeles that ended without the same success as his second stint.
The End of the James-Davis Core
Since the 2020 championship, the Lakers have never returned to the NBA Finals. They reached the Western Conference Finals in 2023, but their overall trajectory declined. Eventually, the franchise made a dramatic pivot. Anthony Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic, signaling the end of the James-Davis partnership. This trade ushered in a new era for the Lakers while closing the book on what was once a promising duo. For Howard, watching from the outside, it was further proof that the window for sustained dominance had closed much earlier than expected.
