The Los Angeles Lakers have failed to live up to the preseason hype they built up following the acquisitions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. With the Lakers struggles, frustration is building and two of the Lakers stars have had enough and got in to a heated exchange in the locker room following Los Angeles’ New Year’s Day loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to the New York Daily News, star guard Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard had an argument that nearly led to the blows in the locker room. It all started with Kobe taking a shot at Howard for his perceived softness.
Here is part of the description of the incident, per the New York Daily News:
"A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft.Howard was restrained from going at his teammate, according to the source, and there have been rumblings from the center’s camp that he’s been unhappy with Bryant since earlier in the season."
If the report is true, you have to wonder when the Lakers will begin to consider a trading Howard. It isn’t the first time that we’ve heard reports or comments from Howard that have hinted his unhappiness with Kobe.
Last week after a loss to the Clippers, Howard said the Lakers problem was that they don’t share the ball enough.
Howard and Bryant just have personalities that don’t mesh together. At some point this season, they contrasting personalities may lead to actual blows.
Bryant responded to the report on his official Twitter account with this tweet: