Dwight Howard discusses playing with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant

Dwight Howard then added that, despite not seeing eye to eye with Kobe Bryant during the Lakers’ 2012-13 season, he now understands that the Black Mamba’s demeanor was the way it was so he could get an unfocused, veteran team to lock in. As one would recall, adding Howard was supposed to vault the Lakers into legitimate title contention. Instead, they won just 45 games, and Bryant had to pour everything he had just to get the Lakers to that position — costing him his health in the process. -via Clutch Points / August 2, 2023

ClutchPoints: “[LeBron’s] joking, silly, have a good time… Kobe ain’t bullsh*tting with nobody. He might not come to the locker room to talk.” Dwight Howard on the difference between being on a team with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. (via @MATHHOFFA ) -via Twitter / August 2, 2023

Troy Daniels got a daily look at Denver star Nikola Jokic when Daniels played for the Nuggets. “He was absolutely unbelievable, the way he can pass the ball, the way he can dribble the ball, his IQ. He can shoot the ball. He can literally do everything,” Daniels said. “What’s the most amazing part is his frame. No disrespect to him, but his frame is not like a Dwight Howard frame. It’s more of a lazy type of frame … where he doesn’t have muscles.” -via Roanoke Times / July 29, 2023

O’Neal then gave his top 10, adding more fodder to the conversation by giving a first and second team. He said his first team, in no particular order, was Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and then [expletive] me.” “That ain’t no disrespect to Malone, [Charles] Barkley and Kareem,” O’Neal said. “Hey, that’s my list. Understand what I’m saying?” -via Los Angeles Times / August 1, 2023

Still, McGrady — who entered the league straight out of high school in 1997 — didn’t back down from his comments. He merely clarifies that he believes he was on the level of a player like Kobe in talent rather than success. “Regardless of what and how anyone else feels,” McGrady says, “when you talk about the talent, its undoubtedly that my talent level was definitely up with the great players that have played this game. I didn’t play with Shaq. I didn’t play with no LeBrons. Yao [Ming] was my best teammate and we couldn’t stay healthy.” -via Clutch Points / July 31, 2023