Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Search
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • 2024 preseason
    • 2024-2025 regular season
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Lakers Nation > Blog > Featured > Lakers News: Dwight Howard Reflects On ‘Love/Hate’ Relationship When Teammates With Kobe Bryant
FeaturedLakers News

Lakers News: Dwight Howard Reflects On ‘Love/Hate’ Relationship When Teammates With Kobe Bryant

Trevor Lane
Published: 05/16/2020
3 Min Read
Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

At the beginning of the 2012-2013 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers thought they had built a powerhouse. After all, they had landed both former MVP point guard Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, who was widely seen as the best center in the league.

Adding those two to stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol should have, at least on paper, given the Lakers a great shot to win a championship. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan.

Nash was lost to injury, Howard rushed his return from offseason back surgery, Gasol suffered injuries of his own, and Bryant’s Herculean efforts to keep the team afloat took their toll when he tore his Achilles at the end of the season.

Along the way, Bryant and Howard didn’t see eye to eye, preventing the team from developing any real chemistry. Howard left as a free agent that summer, becoming a villain in the eyes of Lakers fans.

He remained that way until mending the bridge by returning this past summer to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In an interview with Jared Dudley on Instagram Live, Howard explained his relationship with Bryant and why the two of them struggled to get along.

Howard noted that both of them wanted to be the man and egos got in the way of forming what could have been another dominant duo for the Lakers. Later on, after leaving the team, Howard explained that he saw how Bryant was with his daughters and was amazed because he had only seen the basketball side of him.

Howard also shared that his personality is very similar to that of James, which has made for a great experience this season with the Lakers.

While Bryant and Howard may have endured turbulent times as teammates and in the ensuing seasons, retirement and years passing helped bury the hatchet. Bryant spoke fondly of Howard and had even agreed to lend an assist at the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest.

While the Lakers’ icon tragically passing away struck the franchise, city of L.A. and NBA community hard, Howard was particularly emotional. He waited several days before addressing the media for the first time and grew emotional once doing so.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Dwight HowardKobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers
ByTrevor Lane
Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?