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 > Lakers News > Lakers Rumors: Dwight Howard Claims Rift With Kobe Bryant Was Created By Media
Lakers NewsRumors

Lakers Rumors: Dwight Howard Claims Rift With Kobe Bryant Was Created By Media

Trevor Lane
Published: 07/17/2017
3 Min Read
Usatsi_9243471_153179170_lowres-e1460321432596
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

The infamous “Now this is going to be fun” Los Angeles Lakers team of 2012-2013 never lived up to the lofty expectations that were placed upon them when they came together. On paper, the thought was that a quartet of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard would be unstoppable, but as injuries took their toll, the team wound up barely making the playoffs before being unceremoniously swept by the San Antonio Spurs.

Another factor that was rumored to be near the center of the team’s problems was an ever-growing rift between guard Bryant and big man Howard. The two didn’t agree on the floor and their contrasting personalities – Bryant the driven perfectionist and Howard the grinning prankster – ultimately led to Howard fleeing to the Houston Rockets as a free agent after spending just one year in Los Angeles. However, Howard took to Twitter to deny the notion that he and Bryant had any such issues:

we didn't beef. Since we were losing they needed a story that would sell

— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) July 16, 2017

Of course, that season’s Lakers will live on in infamy not just for underachieving, but also for being the year that Bryant put the team on his back and dragged them to the playoffs, but tragically tore his Achilles just before the end of the regular season. It was the last truly great Bryant season that fans witnessed.

While Howard contends that he and Bryant didn’t have issues, there was an incident during the 2014-2015 season when Howard elbowed a defending Bryant in the chin after securing a rebound, which prompted Bryant to call him “soft”.

Howard’s personality, combined with his demands for touches in the post, likely didn’t sit well with Bryant, who already struggled in a similar situation with former teammate Shaquille O’Neal. It’s certainly possible that the rift wasn’t as big of an issue as it was made out to be, but it seems far-fetched to suggest that the two didn’t have any problems with each other.

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?