Dwight Howard has already switched teams, and now he apparently wants to switch nicknames.
The new Lakers center said on Time Warner Cable’s Lakers telecast Sunday night that he wants to change superhero nicknames from “Superman” to “Iron Man.”
According to OC Register Lakers reporter Kevin Ding, Howard was suggested the nickname over Twitter and considered it for days. He is likely changing nicknames to avoid looking like he’s copying Shaq’s style.
Howard and Shaq have numerous similarities. The two were both dominant centers drafted by the Orlando Magic. Both moved on from Orlando to play with the Lakers. Both went by the Superman nickname.
Shaq has called out Howard several times, even pointing out that his nickname was ripped off. Howard offered to change nicknames to Batman in 2010, but that never materialized.
The funny thing is that despite all Howard’s efforts to avoid looking like he’s copying Shaq, he really is following in The Big Fella’s footsteps. And in a move that is a microcosm of Howard’s numerous P.R. blunders, the nickname he wants to switch to is one of a former Laker.
Former Lakers forward A.C. Green was known as “Iron Man” for playing in a record 1,192 straight games. He identifies with the nickname so much that his Twitter handle is “NBA_Ironman.”
When told that Green is “Iron Man,” Howard reportedly was disappointed.
“Aw, man. There’s nothing new under the sun!” he said.
Typical Dwight: Even when he’s trying to do something for a good reason, he still ends up looking bad.
Previously
Shaq rips ‘Superman’ Dwight Howard
Shaq: Brook Lopez is better than Dwight Howard
Dwight responds to Shaq: Sit down and get on with your life
