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Published -
- November 19, 2019
- 10:35 am
Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard says he was close to elbowing Kobe after he tapped him on the back
How did Dwight Howard react when Kobe Bryant tapped him on the back during a game in 2013?
Dwight Howard, the 6-time NBA All-Star and current player for the Los Angeles Lakers, recently made headlines when he revealed that he was close to elbowing his former teammate Kobe Bryant after he tapped him on the back during a game. The incident took place during a game between the Lakers and the Houston Rockets in 2013.In an interview with The Athletic, Howard described the incident in detail. He said that he was sitting on the bench during the fourth quarter of the game when Kobe came over and tapped him on the back. Howard, who was visibly upset, said that he turned around and was ready to elbow Kobe before he realized who it was.
While Howard did not go through with the elbow, the incident highlights the tensions that existed between the two players during their time as teammates. Howard joined the Lakers in 2012, but his time there was marred by clashes with Kobe and other members of the team.
Howard and Kobe had a well-documented feud during their time together, with Kobe famously telling Howard to “put on his big boy pants” and demanding that he play through a back injury. Howard, who was struggling with injuries at the time, took offense to Kobe’s comments and the two never fully patched things up.
Despite the tensions between the two players, Howard says that he now has a greater appreciation for Kobe and his work ethic. “I learned a lot from that guy,” Howard said. “He was one of the best to ever do it.”
The incident also shows the level of intensity and competitiveness that exists in the NBA. While players may be teammates, they are also competing against each other for playing time, recognition, and championships. In the heat of the moment, emotions can run high and incidents like the one between Howard and Kobe can occur.
In the end, the incident serves as a reminder that even the most successful and high-profile athletes are human and can let their emotions get the best of them. While Howard and Kobe may have had their differences, they were both incredibly talented players who had a profound impact on the game of basketball.
