The Los Angeles Lakers had a tough season while dealing with a number of injuries and not even the trade of Dwight Howard could save things, but now that he has left LA some players have spoken honestly about his time there, including Steve Nash.
According to ESPN Los Angeles, Nash spoke to "The Mason & Ireland Show" on ESPN LA 710 radio on Tuesday and said that Howard never wanted to be a Laker in the first place and that he was never comfortable with the team or the city. Nash said he was not surprised that Howard moved onto the Rockets, saying that Howard did not want to be there and that there was no point for him staying.
Nash and Kobe Bryant pitched Howard on staying with the Lakers and the two players did not get him to do so. Nash said that he felt they didn't have a chance before the meeting and that Howard had some frustrations with the team in the meeting and that he never felt embraced by LA. Howard decided on the Rockets over the Hawks, Lakers, Warriors and Mavericks and Nash said that he had problems getting used to being in the media environment and the fact that he was recovering from an injury.
Nash and Pau Gasol also dealt with injuries as the Lakers got off to a bad start and the bad attitude by Howard didn't help either. Nash said that he didn't like the offense that the Lakers ran and he also said that he doesn't see Houston doing anything too different, but that he should be able to fit in better there. Nash had good things to say about Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni despite Howard's unhappiness and that he is ready to come back just as everyone has counted him out.
The Lakers were swept in the playoffs by the Spurs and now Nash and company will try to come back better without Howard as Bryant comes back from a serious injury. Nash said that health will be a big issue for the team and that if they stay healthy they can be successful.
"A lot of it depends on health," Nash said. "Am I going to be 100 percent? Which I totally believe I wholeheartedly will be. Is Kobe going to be at what level? I wouldn't put anything past him. Is Pau going to be sitting ready for a full season? And Jordan [Hill], after his injury, too. If we're all healthy, and we'll see how we round out the roster and how we come together, who knows what we're capable of. But I definitely start, regardless of any of those answers, finding a way we can be a playoff team and then let's see if we can make something special out of it."
