On Wednesday, Dwight Howard returned to the Staples Center for the first time since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in the summer despite their pleas to stay.
Howard instead opted to sign with the Houston Rockets to team up with James Harden and Chandler Parsons.
Howard joined the Lakers before the 2012-2013 season via a four-team trade between the Lakers, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers after Howard forced his way out of Orlando.
Lakers fans booed Howard heavily as he was introduced and kept the boos going throughout the night. Although Howard was faked out by one Lakers fan on a high five attempt, he scored 20 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots while leading the Rockets to a 134-108 victory.
At one point the fans started a “Howard sucks” and Howard decided to join in.
It’s going to be a while before Lakers’ fans or even Magic fans for that matter, forgive Howard.