Newsletter
Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Reading: Dwight Howard Gets Real On Ruining The NBA Finals Matchup Between LeBron James And Kobe Bryant
Fadeaway WorldFadeaway World
Search
  • Fadeaway World
  • NBA News & Analysis
  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA News & Media
  • Exclusive Interviews
  • NBA 2K
Follow US
Home > NBA News & Analysis > Dwight Howard Gets Real On Ruining The NBA Finals Matchup Between LeBron James And Kobe Bryant

Dwight Howard Gets Real On Ruining The NBA Finals Matchup Between LeBron James And Kobe Bryant

Dwight Howard reveals he took it personally before ruining the long-awaited LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant Finals matchup in 2009.

Orlando Silva
Nov 5, 2022
4 Min Read
Share

Credit: Fadeaway World

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are two of the best players of all time and the most famous faces in the NBA in the last 22 years or so. These two legends had their time to dominate the competition, and when Kobe stopped going to the Finals with his Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron took over and started a terrific streak of Finals appearances in the 2010s. 

Even though these two were always in the conversation for the championship, we never got to see them going at it in the Finals, although we had some times when that possibility was really big. 

Back in 2009, everybody thought we would have the duel we always wanted to see, with Kobe and LeBron going at it for the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, this never came to fruition as somebody else had different plans that season and ended LeBron’s chances to play in his second Finals. 


Dwight Howard Knows People Wanted To See LeBron James And Kobe Bryant In 2009 Finals

Dwight Howard was a beast in his prime, dominating the league from 2007 through 2012 and having one of the most impressive peaks we’ve seen in recent times. He was a beast on defense, a limited but effective scorer, and somebody who would give rivals problems in any way. 

He single-handedly led the Orlando Magic to the Finals that season, competing against Bryant in the biggest series of all. Unfortunately, he eliminated LeBron and his Cavs from the competition with that win, which was a big one for Dwight. He ruined the possibility of seeing Kobe and LeBron play against each other in the Finals, but Howard has no regrets about it. 

During a recent interview with Shannon Sharpe, the future Hall of Famer talked about his motivation going into that series against the King and how some muppets fueled him to beat James. 

I was looking forward to seeing Kobe and LeBron play each other in the Finals. Sorry, @DwightHoward @clubshayshay pic.twitter.com/yZ1BOpgqwV

— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 2, 2022

“I’m glad I ruined it because that one ain’t right,” Howard said. “They pissed our whole team off. I’m glad we went out there and we showed LeBron and the Cavs that, ‘Hell naw. The puppet got to go.’

“For real, because I’m like, ‘How y’all gonna have a whole Nike commercial about LeBron and Kobe in the Finals, and they ain’t even in the Finals yet?’ And we took that hard. … We wanted to destroy LeBron and the Cavs because of that.”

In the end, the Orlando Magic beat LeBron and his Cavaliers in six games, earning the right to face the ultimate boss in the Finals. Unfortunately, they couldn’t keep up against Kobe Bryant and co., with the Lakers adding the 15th title in franchise history with a 4-1 win in the Finals. 

Dwight was a monster during those years, and that’s the reason why he should be a top-75 player of all time right now. However, people quickly forgot about his incredible run, but he doesn’t forget about the victories he got and the dream matchup he ruined for everybody.  

If you are interested in more NBA news, follow us on Google News for the latest updates. 

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Dwight HowardKobe BryantLeBron James
Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
ByOrlando Silva
Follow:
Orlando Silva has been a part of Fadeaway World for over three years now, starting in March 2019. Trade rumors, hottest news, controversies, and basketball gossip have become his specialties. After several years of seeing the Spurs dominate the playoffs, they've become his favorite team as players for the franchise either rise to the occasion or fall completely from grace. When he's not talking about the NBA, Orlando can be seen watching other sports, making music, or enjoying television series.
Previous Article Young NBA Fan Who Beat Cancer Wholesomely Let Nikola Vucevic Know After Bulls Star Gave Him His Jersey 2 Years Ago
Next Article Jalen Rose On Ime Udoka Cheating Scandal: “I Now Understand Fully Why Her Name Should Not Be Released”
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram

You Might Also Like

Warriors star Jimmy Butler
Golden State Warriors News & Analysis

Stephen Curry Says Jimmy Butler Gives Warriors “Legitimate Shot” At 2026 Title

October 3, 2025
JJ Redick
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

Richard Jefferson Reveals Major Flaw In JJ Redick’s Coaching

October 3, 2025
Luka Doncic
Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis

Austin Reaves Recalls Luka Doncic’s First Game Back In Dallas After Blockbuster Trade

October 3, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves News & Analysis

Anthony Edwards Gets Real On Putting “Belt To A**” On Elite Players Like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry

October 3, 2025

NBA - Fadeaway World

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

Pages

  • NBA Trade Rumors
  • NBA Media
  • Exclusive NBA Interviews
  • NBA 2K News & Updates

© 2025 Fadeaway World @ All Rights Reserved

  • About Fadeaway World
  • Fadeaway World Authors
  • Editorial Team
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Contact Us
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?