Since leaving the Orlando Magic in 2012, Dwight Howard has made headlines for negative reasons far more often than anything positive the big man has done on the court.
Howard filled in for Shaquille O’Neal on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” on Tuesday night, and Charles Barkley straight-up asked Howard a potentially awkward question.
Barkley more or less asked him “Why doesn’t anyone like you?” and Howard’s response was pretty insightful.
There’s obviously a lot to dissect there. It’s interesting and almost refreshing to hear Howard admit how much the criticism bothers him, and it sounds like there’s an indirect jab at the Houston Rockets’ offense (and perhaps guard James Harden?) as Howard discussed the perception that he looks disinterested at times.
An attempt to rehabilitate his image might be the best thing Howard can do right now. He’s technically still a Rocket, but he can opt out of his contract this summer and become a free agent. The 30-year-old’s name came up a lot at the NBA trade deadline, but Houston decided not to move him.
The Rockets made the playoffs but were bounced in the first round by the top-seeded Golden State Warriors. The center averaged 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game — both below his career averages — this season.
