Dwight Howard would rather be playing in the NBA playoffs than serving as a postseason analyst, but nonetheless he was an integral part of “Inside the NBA” on TNT after Game 5 of the Thunder-Spurs series on Tuesday night.
Filling in for Shaq, the Houston Rockets center was the focus of attention for a good 20 minutes during the postgame show. Show co-host Charles Barkley did not hold back at all as he grilled Howard, asking the Rockets center bluntly why he is so disliked among other things.
Here are some of the most interesting nuggets from Howard’s appearance on the show.
1) Howard thinks his exit from Orlando led to people disliking him
Charles Barkley said that the perception is people do no like Howard. Howard did not dispute that and said the way he left Orlando — there were continuous trade rumors for a few years — changed the public’s perception of him.
“I think I was very likable in Orlando. I think the way the situation ended, people felt I am a bad guy. It really hurts me because my heart and my attitude towards the game has always been the same. My drive has always been the same.”
Howard also said he was driven to succeed by people like Barkley and Magic Johnson saying he would never make it to the NBA.
Howard also zinged Barkley by saying the analyst was the one who said people disliked him.
"Why do you think people dont like you? Lakers sayin all those bad things " -Charles
"I think you mean you" -Dwight pic.twitter.com/GAQhURVumi
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) May 11, 2016
2) He was not “disinterested” in Houston, but he wants the ball more
Barkley asked Howard why he seemed “disinterested” in Houston.
Dwight Howard opens up re: reports he was "disinterested" by playing with James Harden pic.twitter.com/lUM3f7kRkz
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) May 11, 2016
“I’m always interested in winning. But as a big, sometimes you want to feel a part of what is going on. … There’s been times I’ve been upset and I’ve taken myself out of games and situations and that’s on me, and I have to grow and be a better player at that. I’m always interested in the game.”
3) He insists he hasn’t thought about his future.
Howard has the ability to opt out of his contract and become a free agent, which most people think he will do. Howard will not tip his hand on that matter.
“That part hasn’t even crossed my mind.”
4) He “hated” losing in the playoffs
Howard’s Rockets lost to the Warriors in five games in the first round of the playoffs, a year after reaching the Western Conference Finals.
“I hated the fact that we got put out when we did. I was very upset to lose to Golden State the way we did. It just irked me. You have two great players in James Harden and myself, and we weren’t able to be great together this season. And it piss-d me off,” said Howard.
5) He did go on vacation to Mexico after the season ended
There was a running joke on “Inside the NBA” that the Houston Rockets had mentally checked out of their series with the Warriors and would chant, “One-two-three Mexico!” when they broke huddles. Apparently that is not too far off from reality, as Howard revealed he did vacation in Mexico after the Rockets’ season ended.
6) He has already started training for next season
Howard did not come into this season fully prepared as he was still recovering from a back injury. Next season, however, will be a different story.
“I’ve already started training. My focus is on making sure I’m in the best shape and my body is better than ever. I want to come into next season with the mentality of dominating from the preseason all the way to the end of the season. That’s my focus.”
7) He thinks he and James Harden can work together if …
“I think we can (work together) but both of us have to put our egos and our pride to the side. We need each other to win. You can’t do it alone and I can’t do it alone.”
