While everyone appeared ready to sign Dwight Howard in the summer of 2013, the team that actually did had some heavy reservations about the move. The Houston Rockets might have landed the top free agent in the offseason, but the signing almost did not happen as head coach Kevin McHale was very concerned about lasting effects from Howard's back surgery.
"Last July, when we got him, he was not healthy," McHale said, via ESPN.com. "We signed him, and our biggest fear was his health. We knew he could play. He already had been three-time defensive player of the year, he'd been first-team all pro. He could still play, and he was young enough. We were more concerned about his back and his strength and flexibility."
McHale notes that Howard's conditioning has improved 100 percent, but the team is still concerned things could take a drastic turn at some point this season. Right now, Howard is taking advantage of feeling strong. He is averaging 15.0 points to start the season along with 17.0 rebounds. The Rockets are 3-1 to start the year.
"I'm moving a lot better. I'm going to get balls that I couldn't get last season. Rebounds, blocked shots, all that stuff is a lot different. I've been doing a lot of work in the offseason just to get my body back right. I feel a lot better," Howard said.
Howard will face his former Los Angeles Lakers in Houston on Thursday, a matchup he admits to feeling some anxiety over. He understands some people still feel stung by his decision to leave Los Angeles in favor of the Rockets. He understands that fans will likely boo him in his return to the Staples Center and players might be more physical with him. He promises the decision was nothing personal towards anyone.
"I never tried to do anything to hurt these people in L.A., but I understand that they're just passionate about their team and when you do something that's best for you, everybody else might not like it and they tend to react in crazy ways. You see the jerseys getting burnt and the 'Coward' jerseys and all that stuff. But that's just fans being passionate about their teams, and it's totally understandable. I have nothing bad to say about those people," Howard said.
Howard was immediately made out to be the bad guy after departing from Los Angeles. The 27-year-old was treated as the villain of the league while trying to make his decision for free agency. Howard says that he has put all of that behind him and has moved on with the Rockets.
