Dwight Howard is preparing for his return to Orlando for the first time since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason. In an attempt at receiving a warm welcome from Magic fans, Howard is issuing a formal apology for how he handled the trade situation last season. Howard is trying to re-build burned bridges by admitting he screwed up the way treated his situation with the Magic.
"In Orlando, I handled a lot of stuff the wrong way. If any of those people in Orlando are upset with how I did it, I apologize for the way I handled it and the way it was handled in the media," Howard said to USA Today.
Howard created a nightmare situation for himself last season and the media had a field day with it. The All-Star center flip-flopped on his future multiple times. One moment he was saying he wanted to stay in Orlando, only to follow those statements with trade requests. Howard went from one of the most beloved NBA players, to one of the most hated. He ended up waiving his early termination option after many believed he would play the 2012 season with Orlando.
Howard claims he got caught up in trying to please everyone while also making the best decision for himself.
"I really just got caught up in wanting to please everybody else. I really love that city. That was the hardest thing to do was to leave that city because I basically grew up there. That was my whole life. Orlando was it. I did not want to leave all that behind-the city, just everything about it. But I wanted a change for my life. I just felt like there was something else out there for me," Howard said.
The Magic eventually decided to move on from Howard and he became the center of a four-team trade that sent him to Los Angeles. The transition to the Lakers has not exactly been smooth as Howard at struggled to regain form after offseason back surgery. An injured shoulder along with a rumored feud Kobe Bryant has begun to raise questions of Howard's future with the Lakers.
The team has come on for a late season run in hopes of getting the final spot into the playoffs. Howard says he has changed and is working to become a better person and teammate. He claims the events of the past year have taught him multiple lessons.
"I'm becoming a better man because of the stuff that has happened to me this last year and a half. Everybody goes through stuff like this. Even though I'm going through it where everybody in the world can see it, I'm happy that it's happening," Howard said.
Whether Magic fans accept his apology is remained to be seen. The Lakers face Orlando on Tuesday. The Lakers have a chance to make the playoffs if they can put together a solid finish to the season. Howard's performance will play a large part in those efforts.