Former NBA star Dwight Howard blames LeBron James for his Lakers exit after championship run

Former NBA prima Dwight Howard precocious revealed immoderate details astir his exit from the Los Angeles Lakers. 

During a caller variation of his "Above The Rim with DH 12," podcast, the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year claimed LeBron James was liable for him leaving Los Angeles soon aft the franchise defeated the Miami Heat successful the 2020 NBA Finals. 

The title bid was played successful the NBA bubble successful Orlando owed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers during a crippled against the Orlando Magic Jan. 21, 2022, astatine Amway Center successful Orlando, Fla.  (Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images)

According to Howard, friction betwixt him and James stemmed from a crippled during the 2019-20 regular season. Howard said helium directed immoderate vulgar instructions to James, which contributed to his departure from the Lakers.

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"I said that [too], and I got kicked disconnected the Lakers," Howard told Mario Chalmers, who played with James during his clip with the Heat. "So, I cognize however you feel.

"You can’t accidental that," Howard added. "I said that 1 time, and I was disconnected the team. … It was aft we won the championship, man. It happened connected defense. I was like, ‘Yo, you gotta get back.’ And [LeBron] got huffy due to the fact that I said something. And I was like, ‘Yo, halt acting similar a b----, man.'"

LeBron James (23) and Dwight Howard (39) of the Los Angeles Lakers respond during the archetypal 4th against the Miami Heat successful Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals astatine AdventHealth Arena astatine the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex Sept. 30, 2020, successful Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

While the nonstop reasons the Lakers decided not to bring backmost Howard aft the 2019-20 play stay unclear, the insult besides seemed to beryllium astatine the halfway of James' strife with Golden State Warriors guardant Draymond Green during the 2016 NBA Finals.

"He said Draymond Green called him the B-word, and that’s what got him going," Chris Broussard said astatine the time, referring to his treatment with James aft the Cavaliers' nonaccomplishment to the Warriors successful Game 4.

Cameras besides appeared to seizure Green attempting to onslaught James successful the groin country erstwhile the 2 players got tangled up astir midcourt. Green served a one-game suspension during the series. 

The James-led Cavs yet hoisted the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy successful 2016.

Howard's archetypal stint with the Lakers was during the 2012-13 season. James was with the Heat astatine the time. Howard past bounced astir the league with a fewer teams earlier rejoining the purple and golden for the 2019-20 campaign. 

Los Angeles Lakers guardant LeBron James, right, talks with teammate Dwight Howard, left, and eats a snack portion connected the seat during the archetypal fractional  against the San Antonio Spurs March 7, 2022, successful San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Despite making cardinal on-court contributions successful a play that culminated with the Lakers' seventh NBA title, Howard near Los Angeles and played with the Philadelphia 76ers the adjacent year.

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Howard did get different accidental to play with James successful LA erstwhile helium returned to the Lakers for the 2021-22 season. Howard appeared successful 60 games that play and has not played successful the NBA since. He spent the 2022-23 play competing successful a nonrecreational league based successful Taiwan.

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