Dwight Howard on Kobe Bryant: We’re not best friends, but we’re on the same page

Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant have not gotten along very well in their first season as teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers. Anyone who has paid attention to the team knows that. Fortunately, they don’t need to. Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal probably weren’t sitting down for any lunches together when they were teammates, but that didn’t stop them from finding success.

The important thing is that the Lakers have been winning more than losing lately, and they have themselves in playoff contention. Howard admits him and Kobe aren’t great friends, but that’s life.

“We’re not best friends but I would say that we understand where we’re at,” Howard told Dan LeBatard on 790 the Ticket in Miami on Wednesday. “We’re pretty much on the same page as far as what it’s going to take for us to get to the next level and for us to win. I have to bring that energy and effort every night and because I’m in better shape, I’m able to do that for longer periods.”

LA is three games above .500 and currently holds control of the 8th seed in the Western Conference. Howard has dominated the glass since the All-Star break and the team has been better because of it. If you couldn’t guess that Dwight and Kobe aren’t close from reading stories like this from the All-Star Game, Howard just spelled it out for you.

The only thing Lakers fans should care about is the result on the court. LA is still capable of being a dangerous team if it fulfills Kobe’s guarantee — whether Bryant and Howard like each other or not.

Thanks to Sports Radio Interviews for the transcription