Dwight Howard: It was tough playing with Kobe Bryant

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One can only hope the ashes have died out after the demise of this past Lakers season. Unfortunately the latest string of comments to come out of the Dwight Howard saga might have added a little gasoline to the fire. 
 
It seems everyone lately has taken some parting shots at Howard including Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Shaquille O’Neal, and even Ice Cube. Their gripe has centered on him not being able to handle the bright lights of Los Angeles. They claim that Howard felt the pressure of the city along with the legacy of the organization and therefore chose to depart for Houston.
 
Howard recently responded to questions about playing with Kobe and told ESPN there was friction between him and Bryant during the season.
 
“Was it tough playing with Kobe? Yeah, it was very tough. But playing along with Kobe didn’t have any parts in my decision going to Houston. I just felt like going to Houston was a better situation for me in my career.”
 
“Me and Kobe, we had our disagreements and we had our moments. Everybody knows Kobe likes to score. There were times we would get at it about getting the ball. And that happens as a team.”
 
For a team entering last season with the aspirations and expectations by many to be competing for a championship, things have gone in the complete opposite direction within a year’s time. It’s not the first time a former teammate has criticized Bryant as being a tough teammate and Howard’s comments will more than likely get a response from Bryant in the near future. 
 
Howard’s personal motto for his career has been he “just wants to have fun." Last season was clearly a year Howard would like to forget, but it seems like he has been made a mockery of for all the wrong reasons. Maybe this year he can get back to getting attention for the good things he can bring to the court and leave the drama for Los Angeles.