The Los Angeles Lakers were in desperate need of a center before they signed Alex Len and Stephen A. Smith had a name in mind for them. On First Take, Smith shockingly brought up Dwight Howard as someone the Lakers should go after and unsurprisingly got clowned for that take by Brian Windhorst.
Stephen A. Smith: “I haven’t seen him in a couple of years, I don’t know how he’s looking Windy but I’m finding it hard to believe — all you need is somebody to defend and rebound — why not look at a Dwight Howard? Why not look at somebody off the scrap heap?
“He’s always in shape. He never looks out of shape at all. Don’t get me wrong, I understand, Windy. I know we ain’t seen him in a while. But Shannon brought up names like JaVale McGee and others. I would say this to you, Windy: Look around the league. Who’s available? I mean, what are we talking about here?”
Brian Windhorst: “DeMarcus Cousins is playing in Mongolia, why don’t you call him?”
Smith: “Who?”
Windhorst: “DeMarcus Cousins is playing in Mongolia, why don’t you call him? Dwight Howard’s going into the Hall of Fame because he’s retired for so long. Last time he played, he was in Taiwan. Are you being serious?”
Brian Windhorst couldn't believe that Stephen A. Smith suggested the Lakers could sign Dwight Howard.
"Demarcus Cousins is playing in Mongolia, why don't you call him?… Dwight Howard's going into the Hall of Fame because he's retired for so long… are you being serious?" pic.twitter.com/vH1RGu8Zfp
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 11, 2025
Smith continued to defend his take, stating that the Lakers only need a big body that can defend and rebound. He wasn’t expecting to see Howard at his peak but believed even the current version could get the job done. Windhorst wasn’t buying it, though, and wryly stated that perhaps the Lakers should then go after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
That was hilarious from Windhorst and you have to agree with his take on this matter.
Howard has not retired as such, but it’s clear by now that he isn’t getting another opportunity in the NBA. The 39-year-old last played in the league in the 2021-22 season for the Lakers and averaged 6.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
No team has really shown serious interest in bringing Howard on board since, despite his clamoring for another opportunity. It was fairly clear in his last season that there wasn’t any gas left in the tank and that was three years ago. The Lakers would know that better than anyone else and were never going to sign him.
Dwight Howard Took Shots At Brian Windhorst
Windhorst’s reaction to Smith suggesting the Lakers should sign Howard didn’t go down too well with the former NBA star. He initially put out a post on X in which he mocked Windhorst over his weight.
“Layoff the burgers windy.”
Howard appears to have soon realized, though, that this was inappropriate and edited the post. He wasn’t taking the high road, though, as he brought up a comment made by DeMarcus Cousins.
“If I walk into a room and LeBron James is in there—we can arguably say one of the greatest to ever touch a basketball—he acknowledges me, that mean way more than motherf****** Brian Windhorst chunky a** telling me I’m great.”
Boogie said it best 🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/oYvUcP99yG
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) February 11, 2025
It will be interesting to see if Windhorst responds to these jabs from Howard. He was in a spicy mood on that episode of First Take and could well get into a war of words here.
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