<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Dwight Howard says he won't take long-term risk just to return to save <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23lakers">#lakers</a> "This is my career. Nobody else is going to take care of me."</p>— gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) <a href="https://twitter.com/GwashNBAGlobe/status/299566657330900992">February 7, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Dwight Howard was irritated by questions about his status today. He said he'll be a gametime decision. Emphasized that his career's at stake</p>— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten/status/299565365564952577">February 7, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Why is he irritated that they're asking him if he's playing tonight Its not like you know an hour before the game if you are in pain or not
[rQUOTEr]Dwight Howard said on Thursday that he will not put his career at undue risk to save the Los Angeles Lakers' season. "I mean, why wouldn't I want to play?" said Howard when challenged by a reporter. "But, at the same time, this is my career, this is my future, this is my life. I can't leave that up to anybody else because nobody else is going to take care of me. So, if people are pissed off that I don't play or if I do play, whatever it may be, so what? This is my career. If I go down, then what? Everybody's life is going to go on. I don't want to have another summer where I'm rehabbing and trying to get healthy again. I want to come back and have another great year. That's what I want to do." Howard, who is a free agent this summer, has been dealing with persistent shoulder issues.[/rQUOTEr]
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Dwight on Kobe pressing him to play: "That's his opinion, that's it. He's not a doctor, I'm not a doctor. That's his opinion."</p>— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten/status/299568981877075968">February 7, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That's in direct response to Kobe saying, "Some guys are just different.....they man up, and play through pain....like ME. But if it's season or career-threatening....then chill out." So, here comes Dwight saying, "Oh...yeah...this? It could be career threatening!" What a circus.
Nash calling out Dwight too lol... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Nash on Dwight: "I think everyone has got to play through some pain in this league ..."</p>— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten/status/299575913186746369">February 7, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> World Peace is in his corner though. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>World Peace on Dwight's side: "I would say he’s a soldier and I’m not going to question his injury. He’s hurt to me."</p>— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcten/status/299577940889464832">February 7, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Nobody can say if Dwight is hurt except Dwight and his doctor. Kobe is not going to reimburse Dwight for lost future earnings if he screws himself up playing through an injury this year. Kobe doesn't care about Dwight's future. I hate to say it, but the same for Nash. The only thing Kobe and Nash care about is how well they do this year, because those guys are nearing the end of the line. Dwight has the rest of his career to think about. He doesn't owe those guys to play if his injury doesn't allow it.
Yeah but don't you get the feeling he has an agenda anyway:grin: Anyhow, it's coming down to crunchtime and we already know Kobe will throw people under the bus on his own behalf especially if he has to try to save face. They'll use Dwight and won't care a lick about him if he gets injured or burned out one bit. I don't blame him for shunning Kobe, he just better be ready for the snake part of the dude to show his head...well he's already starting to.
Dude tore his freaking labrum. Anybody saying Dwight should just play through it like it's nothing is ridiculous.
Kobe should care about Dwight's future because it's the only thing that matters now for the Lakers too. If they don't sign a healthy Dwight long-term this summer, Lakers are in a boatload of trouble. This season is lost and it's time to focus on getting him healthy for next year. These public words don't help in any way. The fact that both Nash and Kobe are speaking out raises the dysfunction level another notch. Makes me believe both guys dislike him and seriously question his character.
Dwight needs to demand a #protocol. It's a medical condition. It's #unreasonable for people like Kobe or Nash who are #ignorant of injuries to make decisions for him. #BeWell #InjuryTrooper
Kobe is making himself look like a huge ****. MJ was an A-hole but did he ever call out his teammates for milking injuries? This doesn't feed into the "Competitor/Animal" image that Kobe has been trying to build for himself the last few years, just makes him look like a douche.
If Howard had a winning history, Kobe would have given some type of leeway. The thing is Howard is CLEARED to play by the medical staff, so it's all up to him. From ESPN D'Antoni said the decision to whether to play or not ultimately rests with Howard. "I think he's cleared (by the medical staff), but he's cleared (fully) when the pain goes away, so he tells us when the pain goes away," D'Antoni said. Kobe knows he has a 2 year window left. He hasn't given up on this season, and he doesn't want to wait for next season. But Dwight is not 100% since the start of the season, and he might never be. Tough position to be in.
