Report: Donatas Motiejunas says Harden-Howard comment was a joke
With his latest comments, Houston Rockets big man Donatas Motiejunas has caused quite the stir in the basketball world. Appearing on a radio show, Motiejuanas made a statement that implied stars James Harden and Dwight Howard wouldn’t eat meals with the rest of the team.
But Motiejunas says his words were taken out of context as his statement was apart of a joke to lighten up the mood on the radio show:
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"“The radio show, the guys that work there, make fun of everybody,” Motiejunas, who called from Lithuania said. “It’s a funny radio show. Everybody in Lithuania listens. They told me to try to be funny, try to make the jokes. They told me to be free. They asked some question. I joked about one thing. I joked about the other thing.“They asked about the team. I tried to be funny. They asked how they (Harden and Howard) approach the team. I told them like, “Hey, they’re not with us. I stay alone.’ Then the journalists in Lithuania took the interrview and took it serious and posted my interview. I didn’t talk with no journalists. It was just a fun radio show.”"
Since Chris Bosh’s decision to return to Miami over taking the max contract offer Houston laid on the table, many have attempted to paint an ill picture of the Rockets’ star duo in James and Dwight, stating that players don’t want to play alongside them due to their personalities. But Motiejunas says that isn’t true and that the current set of Rockets players are tight-knit.
"Motiejunas, however, said he actually does often dine with his teammates, including Howard and Harden.“We never have problems,” Motiejunas said. “For example, last year Dwight invited me and other players to Thanksgiving dinner. James and Dwight bought us give us gifts for Christmas. We go to eat most of the all of the time. I talked with Dwight today. I talk to Dwight all the time. He said he understands. Me and Dwight, we communicate pretty good in the locker room. I never had a problem."
After an interesting offseason, a lot of eyes will be on this Rockets team. If they don’t succeed in the playoffs, the public perception of a group that already has a huge group of people wishing they fail will take a turn for the worse.