Most figure Dwight Howard will ditch the Houston Rockets this summer.
Why not? Howard has a player option and the presumed superteam with James Harden never worked out. This year’s edition of the Rockets chewed through a head coach, underperformed while backing into the postseason and got whipped 4-1 by the Golden State Warriors.
Despite these factors, it doesn’t sound like Howard is ready to call it quits on the Rockets.
“I haven’t made any decision,” Howard said, according to ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins. “My job is to get in the gym and work my butt off.”
It sounds like trained athlete speak, but it was interesting Howard turned the conversation on its head by talking about where he needs to improve:
And I have to grow and became a better player. So I’m always interested in the game, and I’ve had the problem with smiling too much or I play too much on the floor, so when I’m not smiling and all that stuff, it looks like I’m not interested in the game. So it’s like a thin line, and I’m like, ‘Man, do I not smile? Or do I smile and have fun?’ So that’s always been a struggle for me personally.
Speculation has run roughshod about Howard’s future, but he doesn’t sound like a guy ready to jump ship. More like a guy who understands his shortcomings and wants to focus on those instead of finding a more attractive situation.
Still, Howard has found himself linked to the Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets and a few other locales if he chooses to opt out. Most any team would welcome him with open arms, especially if Howard agrees to sign for less than a max contract. If it’s about familiarity and keeping the cash flowing, Howard might find it better to stick with Houston for one more year while addressing the personal topics he touched on in the interview.
Regardless, Howard just put on one of the most notable interviews in a long time, providing a candid look at one of the Association’s most polarizing players.