Los Angeles Lakers: The renaissance of Dwight Howard

When the Los Angeles Lakers signed Dwight Howard this summer many viewed it as a disaster waiting to happen. Thus far, it has been the complete opposite.

The feel-good story of this season for the Los Angeles Lakers continues to be the renaissance of Dwight Howard. The Lakers took a flier on Howard on a non-guaranteed contract when DeMarcus Cousins went down with a season-ending injury. So far, Howard’s play in a secondary role has paid off for the Lakers and this week showed just how valuable Howard can be.

Howard is no longer the superstar he was when he was with the Orlando Magic; back then Howard used his athleticism to provide interior defense and highlight dunks on the offensive end. Howard was so good he parlayed his talents into five straight All-NBA seasons and three Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Once he left Orlando, though, injuries and a bad locker room presence began to tank Howard’s Hall of Fame trajectory. Before coming back to the Los Angeles Lakers, Howard had played on four different teams in four straight years.

Now, back in the fold with the Lakers, Howard is a bench player who has gained new life in a new role.

Howard is averaging just seven points in 19 minutes of play but the Lakers don’t have a need for his offensive game — not when Anthony Davis is on the floor. Howard has given the Lakers productive minutes by his defensive presence.

Howard’s defensive rating of 102 is close to his career average and his 3.5 blocks per 100 possession is close to what he was averaging during his all-star seasons. When Howard is on the court his 6.0 +/- is the highest since his second year in Houston — his last All-Star season.

What these stats translate into is a simplistic way of saying that the Los Angeles Lakers are better off with Dwight Howard on the court than off it. On Sunday night, Howard joined teammates Davis and JaVale McGee by recording five blocks in a game, helping the team to 20 blocks for the game — the highest in the NBA since 2001.

Howard also scored 11 points and had nine points in 20 minutes to help the Lakers win. On Monday, Howard announced that he would be entering the Slam Dunk contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, a contest Howard won in 2008 further illustrating how much of a positive presence he is now seen in the league.

Perhaps the best news Howard received was Tuesday morning, reports filtered out that the Lakers were now guaranteeing Howard’s contract for the rest of the season. The news is a clear sign that Howard is being rewarded for his unselfish play and willingness to contribute in a more diminished role.

When the Lakers signed Howard in the off-season there were people in the media who laughed, but as his season continues to unfold it’s the Lakers and Howard who now have the last laugh.