Although the Los Angeles Lakers will be heavily featured in Sunday’s All-Star Game, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the entire Lakers coaching staff representing the franchise on Team LeBron. But the Los Angeles Lakers will get some level of shine on All-Star Saturday, as Dwight Howard’s incredible redemption tour continues where he will look to win his second Dunk Contest championship.
Howard is participating in the contest for the first time since 2009 and although the dunk contest is not seen as the marquee event it once was in the 1980s, don’t tell that to Dwight. Howard, who has received credit for changing his mindset to do everything the team needs without asking for any post-touches in return, told reporters on Saturday that he’s cherishing every moment, according to Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group.
Dwight Howard is excited for tonight. pic.twitter.com/e0tPVIkwAm
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) February 15, 2020
Howard’s mindset, of being thankful for every moment, is also likely influenced by the recent, sudden death of Kobe Bryant. Howard told reporters earlier this month that he had received word Bryant intended to do something for Howard’s dunk contest performance.
“He was going to do something for me in the dunk contest, which is kind of heartbreaking,” Howard said following the Lakers’ 129-102 win over the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. “It’s been on my mind every day. Man, I can’t believe it. I’m still in shock. It hurts. It’s tough. I just never thought that somebody like that would be gone.”
The entire weekend is also meant to be a tribute to Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven others lost in a helicopter crash. While nobody knows exactly what Howard will do, a Kobe tribute would be appropriate given the person and the place. Perhaps it’s a good time to remind that Kobe Bryant, too, was a Slam Dunk champion.
[lawrence-related id=26940,26915]