It’s becoming a yearly tradition for Dwight Howard to let the Los Angeles Lakers know that his services are available.
On Tuesday, May 5, the Lakers opened up their second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road.
Going into the game, there wasn’t much confidence for the Lakers from the masses. Although they stunned the Houston Rockets without Luka Doncic, the defending champions, who finished first in the Western Conference, are a different beast.
Howard recognizes the situation and hinted that he’s available if the Lakers need him.
The second picture of the post includes an old Dwight Howard X post that reads: [Let me know] if I need to come out of retirement.”
The Lakers Take A Beatdown
This time around, the Lakers got a chance to start the playoffs with their All-Star-caliber sharpshooter, Austin Reaves, on the court.
Unfortunately, Reaves’ night was rough out in OKC. The veteran checked in for 36 minutes. He shot just 3-16 from the field and missed all five of his shots from beyond the arc. Reaves also had six assists to four turnovers.
LeBron James checked in for 36 minutes to score 27 points by going 12-17 fro the field. James also had six assists, four rebounds, and one steal.
The Lakers lost Game 1 with a score of 108-90.
Dwight Howard Wants Another Stint
Although Howard hasn’t played in the NBA since 2022, he officially retired back in March 2026.
During that stretch between his final game and his official retirement, Howard was consistent in stating his case to teams in need of a center. The Lakers frequently heard Howard’s public pitches.
The last time Howard took the court in the NBA, he had 60 appearances with the Lakers. The veteran produced 6.2 points per game, along with 5.9 rebounds per game.
When Howard was in the midst of his second stint with the Lakers in 2019-2020, they won a championship. That year, he produced 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds off the bench.
The former eight-time All-Star called it a career after making the Hall of Fame last year.