The Los Angeles Lakers began their 2014-15 season with a devastating 108-90 loss to the Houston Rockets that saw Julius Randle go down with a fractured tibia. Coming into the game, many focused on Kobe Bryant taking on Dwight Howard’s Rockets for the first time.
— Have You Seen These LIMITED EDITION “Mamba Strikes Back” T-Shirts? —
During the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s game, everything was clearly in Houston’s control but that didn’t stop the former teammates from getting into a verbal altercation. After Howard grabbed a rebound, Bryant hounded him defensively and received elbows to the face.
Following the game, Kobe Bryant downplayed the tension between himself and Howard according to the LA Times’ Mike Bresnahan:
Kobe on scuffle with DH: "I think it's fantastic. Trash-talking is part of the game. I don't know where the NBA became so sensitive."
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) October 29, 2014
Bryant also called Dwight a ‘teddy bear’ while adding that the two didn’t see eye-to-eye on some things:
Kobe on DH: "He's a teddy bear. You can't help but like him. But when you're competing, you have a goal in mind…we didn't see eye to eye."
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) October 29, 2014
It is highly believed Howard’s carefree demeanor didn’t mesh well with Bryant’s ultra-competitive work ethic causing a rift between the two during their time together with the Lakers. Once the season ended, Howard left the Lakers in free agency to join the Rockets.
Before the game, Howard commented on his decision to leave the Lakers and revealed it wasn’t because he feared Bryant. Although the two teams met four times last season, Bryant wasn’t in action as he recovered from a torn achilles early in the season and a knee injury later in the year. The Lakers next face the Rockets on November 19 in Houston.
[divide]Lakers Byron Scott Expects Dwight Howard To Want To Beat The Crap Out Of The Lakers
