Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers‘ Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant had a very difficult time coming together as teammates this season. As a result, the Lakers had very bad chemistry throughout most of the season and Howard and Bryant had a notable conflict even if they denied it.
It seems that those issues are a thing of the past. During the Lakers exit interviews, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Lakers franchise are hopeful that Dwight Howard will return to the Lakers next season via a huge contract extension. Howard will be able to sign with the Lakers for more money than possible with any other team.
While Howard maintains that he has not yet considered his free agency status, Bryant insists that he and Howard have an improved relationship and that he will be able to convince Howard to re-sign with the Lakers.
Bryant told the Los Angeles Times that while he was at home recovering from his Achilles injury, Howard came to Orange County to visit him. Howard lived in a hotel while recovering from back surgery, according to Bryant.
“He did not have a great support system”. Bryant explained, ”I think having Dwight come over at that time, really strengthened our bond. He went through a situation where his back surgery, he was all by himself … He had nobody there for him. I think he sees … me going through this and doesn’t want me to experience the same thing that he experienced. I see that, I understand that and I respect that. My love for him grew a lot that day.”
This is a big step for the Howard-Bryant friendship, as Bryant’s long-time friend Derrick Fisher once told GQ Magazine that he had never been inside Bryant’s house.
It also seems that Bryant understands Howard’s emotional status with regards to his injuries more than he did a few short months ago, when he was criticizing Howard for not playing through his ailments.
Regardless, Howard was still a different player as soon as Bryant’s name was printed on the injured list.
