Written by Alec Nathan at BleacherReport.com
Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard joined TNT’s Inside theNBA on Tuesday night following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 95-91 Game 5 win over the San Antonio Spurs, and the polarizing big man opened up on a trying season, his relationship with James Harden and future plans in a conversation with Matt Winer, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.
When asked whether he will decline his $23.3 million player option for next season and become a free agent, Howard didn’t tip his hand one way or the other, as Turner Sports PR on Twitter documented:
However, Howard clarified that wherever he plays, he’d prefer to be a featured member of the offense, according to the Houston Chronicle‘s Jonathan Feigen:
I’m always interested in winning. As a big, sometimes you want to feel a part of what’s going on. I have to rely on my teammates … to get the ball. There’s been times I’ve been upset and I’ve taken myself out of games and situations. That’s on me. I have to go and be a better player at that.
Although Howard was one of just five players to average at least 13 points and 11 rebounds during the 2015-16 campaign, he attempted just 8.5 shots per game—the lowest mark of his career since his rookie season with the Orlando Magic.
Howard’s struggles were amplified by the fact he reportedly clashed stylistically with the ball-dominant Harden, who tallied a usage rate(32.5 percent) that was light-years ahead of the center’s (18.4 percent).
“They don’t hate each other; they just can’t play together,” a Rockets player told The Vertical’s Michael Lee in April.
Tuesday night, Howard reiterated there is a formula for success the two stars can embrace if they want to coexist.
“I think we can [succeed together],” he said, according to Feigen. “I believe we can. Both of us have to put our egos and our pride to the side. That’s the only way we’re going to win.”
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