Dwight Howard Admits He Saw Lakers' Psychiatrist This Season, Says 'I Just Think Too Much'

Not surprising: Dwight Howard is working on his free throw shooting this offseason, and that he says he still can’t please people.

Surprising: Howard got torched not only at the charity stripe but also in a game of around-the-world by the (adult) daughter of Los Angeles Times writer T.J. Simers.

News, but not surprising: Howard was seeing a psychiatrist this season to work on some of the mental issues with his game.

Simers treated L.A. Times readers to all that and more in a Sunday piece he wrote after catching up with Howard. While Howard was mum about the major topics on everyone’s minds — where the now-free agent will end up and what he thinks of coach Mike D’Antoni — he did offer some nuggets to kick off his time in the summer spotlight.

Howard responded to fans who were critical of him for having fun after the Lakers lost in the playoffs, offering the now-common refrain, “You just can’t please people. … I am upset, but I’m not going to stop living life.” He also took a potshot at Shaquille O’Neal, saying he may dabble in movies and make Kazaam II. This was all while he was getting thrashed by Simers’ daughter, who tagged along to show Howard what making free throws looks like (Howard told Simers he wasn’t going to change his form this offseason but rather would just practice more).

But the really interesting point was when Howard revealed that fans and teammates aren’t the only ones who have been privy to the constant back-and-forth going on in his head. Howard admitted that he saw a Lakers’ psychiatrist this season.

“I have only one problem, and it’s between my ears,” he told Simers. “I just think too much.”

Howard has never been shy about sharing those thoughts, meaning just about anybody — whether they want to or not — has been part of his labored decision-making in recent years. But this time, it sounds like a paid professional was tasked with monitoring what was going on in Howard’s head.

Perhaps Howard can practice reverse doctor-patient confidentiality and not reveal his thoughts as his free agency looms, at least until he picks a team.