Dwight Howard is back with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he has a message for the fans of the Purple and Gold, even those who hated him or still hate him.
"I'm looking forward to giving 110%." @DwightHoward /// #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/9s7aud247Q
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 4, 2019
“Laker fans, I’m excited to be back on the team, and I’m very excited to see all of you guys at the games,” Howard said. “I’m looking forward to giving 110 percent. Thank you for having me back here in L.A. I know sometimes people don’t get second chances but when you do get a second chance you gotta make sure you do the best you can. It wipes away everything that happened the first time.”
Lakers fans may doubt Howard’s sincerity in general when he makes statements like this, and ultimately the proof will be in how he performs on the court and conducts himself off the court.
Howard last played for the Lakers in the 2012-13 season. Despite coming off offseason back surgery, he put up solid numbers of 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots per game.
He left the following summer as a free agent to join the Houston Rockets and started bouncing around the NBA shortly thereafter as his image took a sizable hit.
In rejoining the Lakers, Howard not only has a prime opportunity to win his first NBA championship but to also repair his public reputation.
