I’ll play for Taiwan in Olympics, ‘put up’ 85 on USA


He was making a joke. Kinda.

He was making a joke. Kinda.
Picture: AP

At one level, Dwight Howard was one of many largest stars within the NBA. An eight-time All-Star and All-NBA choice, Howard made 5 All-Defensive groups and took house Defensive Participant of the Yr honors thrice. After enjoying with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers throughout the 2021-22 marketing campaign, Howard wasn’t signed final season, so he packed up and took his skills to Taiwan.

The previous slam-dunk contest champion has taken pictures on the affiliation and its stars since heading to Asia, however nonetheless needs to be amongst them. In considered one of his newest posts, Howard threatens to drop 85 factors on Staff USA for Taiwan if he isn’t added to his nation’s squad. This got here on the heels of Staff USA’s FIBA failure and James’ announcement that he’ll decide to enjoying within the 2024 Olympics. Now Howard needs a bit of the motion.

It’s obvious from Howard’s passive-aggressive swipes on the NBA over the previous 12 months that he’s nonetheless harboring emotions about not being picked up in 2022. You may’t actually blame him for that when different gamers near his 37 years of age are nonetheless getting contracts in The Affiliation regardless of being far much less efficient. Nonetheless, hurling insults disguised as jokes won’t be one of the best route.

Howard is discovering out the arduous approach that there comes a time when these skilled leagues are simply executed with you. It doesn’t matter when you’re able to be executed; they’ll determine for you. Undoubtedly, he might play quarter-hour per evening on an NBA roster at nearly 38 years outdated, nevertheless it appears they’ve moved on Howard collectively. Superman led this league in rebounds 5 instances in his profession. Loads of NBA groups might convey Howard off the bench to seize six to eight rebounds a sport and block a few pictures.

The place this dream of enjoying on Staff USA is anxious, that’s most likely not going to occur both. And that “menace” of scoring 85 factors towards his countrymen can also be a pipe dream, as Taiwan (Chinese language Taipei) didn’t qualify for the Paris video games subsequent summer time. There’s a probability he might find yourself again within the NBA, however trolling isn’t the best way to make that dream come true.