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Dwight Howard Reveals the Truth About Lakers Drama with Kobe
© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Dwight Howard is pushing back against long-standing rumors about his relationship with Kobe Bryant. During a recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast, Howard strongly denied claims that Bryant questioned his work ethic.

"There's no way he said he didn't like my work ethic. There's no way. There's nobody in the NBA who complain say something about Dwight Howard's work ethic," Howard insisted. "My body is better now than when I came into the league!"

The conversation grew more heated when Sharpe brought up Bryant calling Howard "soft." Howard seemed caught off guard, immediately questioning, "He called me soft when?"

When the discussion turned to Howard's departure from the Lakers, the former All-Star center had some interesting revelations. "I did not turn down a max contract," Howard stated firmly. "No, and I'll tell you this they [the Lakers organization] said they put up billboards all around L.A. That never happened... A lot of that stuff wasn't happening."

Howard explained his decision to join Houston instead: "I went to Houston because I saw a young James Harden back then. I saw a young menace I could grow with..."

Throughout the interview, Howard's frustration was evident as he attempted to set the record straight about his Lakers tenure. For a player who spent years in the spotlight, these persistent narratives clearly still touch a nerve, highlighting how difficult it can be for athletes to combat media narratives once they take hold.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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