Dwight Howard Reveals Calling LeBron James A B Got Him Kicked Off The Lakers

Former NBA star Dwight Howard recently shed light on his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that followed the franchise’s 2020 championship victory. In a recent episode of his podcast, Above The Rim with DH 12, Howard revealed that friction with LeBron James played a significant role in his exit from LA shortly after the Lakers triumphed over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, which were held in the bubble in Orlando due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Howard described an incident during the 2019-20 regular season where he directed vulgar instructions at James, which ultimately contributed to his exit from the team. According to Howard, he had urged James to play more aggressively on defense, using harsh language. “I said that [too], and I got kicked off the Lakers,” Howard told former NBA player Mario Chalmers. “I was like, ‘Yo, stop acting like a b––, man.’” Howard suggested this exchange was a major factor in the Lakers’ decision not to bring him back for the following season, despite his contributions to the team’s championship run.

The details of why the Lakers chose not to re-sign Howard remain somewhat unclear, but the incident reflected broader tensions that had also been seen in other famous NBA feuds. Howard’s remark echoed a similar controversy from the 2016 NBA Finals between LeBron James and Draymond Green, who allegedly used the same insult against James, sparking significant animosity.

Howard’s relationship with the Lakers dates back to the 2012-13 season before a brief stint with other teams. His return to the Lakers for the 2019-20 season was marked by crucial contributions during their championship campaign. However, after the title win, he left for the Philadelphia 76ers and later returned to LA for a short time during the 2021-22 season.

After playing in 60 games for the Lakers in 2021-22, Howard’s NBA career came to an end. In the 2022-23 season, he took his talents overseas, playing in Taiwan’s professional basketball league.