Kobe Bryant Reacts to Dwight Howard Leaving Lakers
Kobe Bryant was unsuccessful in bringing former teammate Dwight Howard back to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2013-2014 season and may be showcasing his unhappiness about it on social media networks.
Howard, the 27-year-old center, recently took to Twitter to announce that he would join the Houston Rockets after becoming a free agent at the close of the 2012-2013 season. Bryant, the 34-year-old Lakers forward, made it clear that he would like Howard to return to Los Angeles after joining the team last season.
However, Howard was vocal about his frustrations with his time on the Lakers. Although Bryant has been speaking about working to recruit Howard to return, the center took to Twitter to let it be known that he had other plans.
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"I've decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets," Howard tweeted Friday. "I feel its the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I'm looking forward to a great season. I want to thank the fans in Los Angeles and wish them the best."
Bryant reacted to the news by unfollowing Howard on Twitter. The Lakers guard also took to Instagram to post a photograph of himself with team center Pau Gasol.
"#vamos #juntos #lakercorazon #vino," Bryant captioned the image which translates to "we go," "together," "Laker heart," "wine."
Bryant and the team's other big Gasol have contracts coming to a close next year. The veteran guard believed that his Lakers could have had a shot at a championship if Howard returned.
"Our contracts are ending. ... Pau [Gasol] is up after next year. Hopefully, we get Dwight [Howard] locked up so he's here for a while and the future is kind of set already. So let's take a crack at this thing," Bryant said in a previous ESPN report. "We can win a championship, no doubt about it."
Sports Center reported some possible reasons that Howard decided to leave the Lakers.
"ESPN sources say Dwight Howard is leaving L.A. because of D'Antoni's system, Nash's age and not wanting to be Kobe's sidekick for 3-4 years," a tweet from the official Sports Center page reads.
Howard played his entire career as a center for the Orlando Magic before joining the Los Angeles Lakers this past season.
