Dwight Howard Says ‘I Have Never Felt So Much Joy’ Playing Basketball

The resurgence of Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard serves as one reason why the Lakers currently have the best record in the NBA, winning seven of their first eight games.

Howard’s enthusiastic comments on social media make it clear that he’s thrilled about his high level of play during the first few weeks of the 2019-20 season.

Howard signed with the Lakers as a free agent after he was bought out of his contract by his most recent team, the Memphis Grizzlies. When he was acquired by the Lakers, he was seen as a player who had a chance to bounce back from declining play over the past few years.

In Howard’s first eight games this season, he is only averaging 6.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 assists per game. Yet he’s been able to fill at least part of the hole at center left when DeMarcus Cousins was lost for the season

The solid contributions of Howard, who turns 34 next month, are helping to wipe away the misery of his first stint with the Lakers during the 2012-13 season. Despite leading the NBA in rebounds per game during that year, Howard struggled with back issues and had conflicts with team legend Kobe Bryant.

After that forgettable campaign, Howard left in free agency and signed with the Houston Rockets, where he spent three seasons. He then played one season each with three different teams before he was dealt to Memphis in July.

There are still 74 games remaining on the regular schedule, with the hope of an extended playoff run after that. For the Lakers to succeed in the latter portion, Howard will need to continue turning back the clock. Right now, his off-the-charts enthusiasm is making that seem more likely