One star’s opinion we haven’t heard regarding the Donald Sterling situation is Houston Rocket’s superstar Dwight Howard. According to multiple media persons, that’s because the Houston Rockets have ordered their please not to speak on the TMZ report:
Rockets players told not to talk about Sterling. Respect right of players not to comment. Don't like them being ordered in that direction.
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) April 26, 2014
With Rox players told not to comment on Donald Sterling situation, Dwight Howard tells @USATODAYsports, "I can't say how I really feel."
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 26, 2014
Howard has never shied away from speaking on public matters, so you knew when the rest of the league was speaking up and Howard was oddly silent, something was up.
Since the story was reported, the Rockets have been the only team that has reportedly forced their players to hush on the matter. It’s unclear if Daryl Morey, the front-office face of the Rockets and Leslie Alexander, owner of the organization are with or against Sterling, but this silence sends the wrong message. Several key people have spoken up: Doc Rivers, head coach of the Clippers, the National Basketball Players Association, Adam Silver, Micky Arison, Gregg Popovich, and even Donald Sterling himself, by way of press release. You could point to the other owners who haven’t spoke on the matter, like Charlotte’s owner Charlotte Bobcats, but they haven’t proceeded to hush their employees.
Down 2-1 to the Portland Trail Blazers, if the Rockets face an early elimination, Dwight Howard will surely speak on the situation then.