Orlando Magic center and free-agent-to-be Dwight Howard has been putting together yet another great season as the NBA’s best big man. But he’s also been setting a new standard for terrible PR decisions as he greases his way out of Orlando a little more each day. While he certainly hasn’t hit “The Decision” status yet, Howard is certainly busting his ass in trying.
It was simple enough at the beginning, as Howard only needed to cite the horrible job Otis Smith has done as GM, and most people would have said, “Ah yeah, dude’s got a point.” Instead, after asking for a trade, Howard claimed he needed to be surrounded with players who could help him win a championship, which didn’t win him any points with his current teammates. Then, after a horrific 4-game losing streak in which the Magic set new lows in franchise scoring, Howard threw his teammates under the bus again, while claiming his trade demand wasn’t hurting the team.
And even though the Magic have bounced back to win 5 of their last 7, including a huge victory over the Miami Heat, Howard is still pulling hissy fits out of his butt.
“I want to become a closer. The only way you get there is by getting the ball and have coach have the confidence in giving me the ball.
“That’s how Kobe (Bryant) and the rest of the great fourth-quarter players got that way. It’s trial and error. When Kobe first got in the league, it took him a while to become the killer he is in the fourth quarter now. That’s because he went through that phase where he had to learn what shots to take and just get confidence in taking shots in the fourth quarter.
“That’s one thing that I want for myself, so I can become the guy who finishes games for my team. I want to be that guy whose team wants him to close games out for them. Coach just needs to have confidence in me.” (Via Fox Sports Wisconsin and Pro Basketball Talk)
That’s right, the guy with no mid-range shot and a mediocre hook shot at best is blaming Stan Van Gundy for not giving him the ball more down low in the 4th quarter. Makes perfect sense.
Sure, teams are going to hack Howard every time he touches the ball and send him to the line. Sure, he’s going to miss the majority of his free throws, even though he doesn’t think that’s a problem. He wants to be like Kobe Bryant, who has the actual ability to shoot long-range daggers, and that’s not ridiculous at all.
Good luck, whatever team eventually lands Howard. Because I’m pretty sure that he can’t do this…
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It’s a good thing you’re not bitter, Burnsy.
I guess this means he DOESN’T want to go to the Lakers, Clippers, Bulls, Heat, or Knicks, all of whom have more reliable 4th quarter options?
Hello Brooklyn, I guess?
“While he certainly hasn’t hit “The Decision” status yet…”
He already made his decision, and he didn’t need an hour of airtime on ESPN to do it. What Otis Smith does with this information is up to him, but at least he didn’t get it a week after free agency started.
As a CAVS fan, enjoy the season, Burnsy. I feel your pain (thumbs up, bites lower lip)
Well, if he keeps this up, people will run him out of town. It`s a textbook break up move. Be a complete dick until the person gets sick of you and throws you out. Classy move, Mr. Howard.
god , i hope the lakers dont trade for this idiot. thankfully it doesnt look likely anymore. if he wants to be a closer , maybe he should go play for … wait there are people at every level and every league that can shoot better than him. he better get out of orlando fast if he burns them in free agency. hopefully they get something for him and he goes to nj to be on a worse team. even if d will stays, they will have a long way to go. the dumb thing is all these requirements that are being reported are all contradictory. he wants to be on a contender(nj?) , he wants to play for a big market team, with talent around him but not a star like kobe, because he closes games and is a no 1 option. any team with dwight as the no 1 option will never win a chip. whotf does he think he is, shaquille? he is delusional if he thinks he should even be on the floor in a possible free throw situation or commonly taking the final shots around the rim when refs will almost never blow the whistle on those plays. its funny , i always thought something was wrong with him from all the complaining he would do on the court, considering all the shit he would get away with. i dont know , maybe this is bad reporting or people taking things out of context/lying but it seems like too much info for the majority of it to be made up. you gave them a list, stick with the list(NOT- LA) instead of wavering like a woman. the world does not revolve around you so be happy you are an nda star and take bynums outlook “there is a bank in every city” .i cant think of a way , but i wouldnt be surprised if some sort of new rule stems from this ridiculous shit. looks like the lakers should be thanking kobe now. orlando has good fans that deserve much more than this