Howard’s locker‑room lens on two Lakers legends
When rookie‑turned‑Hall‑of‑Famer Dwight Howard sat down with former NBA guard Jeff Teague on the Club 520 Podcast, the conversation steered straight into a topic fans argue about in bars and Twitter threads: Kobe Bryant versus LeBron James. Howard has a rare angle—he actually shared a locker‑room with both. In 2012‑13 he was a new face on Kobe’s roster, barely making it through a bruising season riddled with injuries and chemistry hiccups. Fast‑forward to 2020, Howard re‑joined the Lakers, this time with LeBron at the helm, and helped clinch the bubble championship.
Those two stints gave Howard a front‑row seat to the players’ off‑court vibes. He didn’t mince words: “Kobe’s an a**hole, not saying he’s an a**hole to me, I’m just saying his personality, he don’t give a f***.” By contrast, he described LeBron as a guy who “wants everybody to like him, jokes around, laughs, has a good time.” The dichotomy, Howard said, sits at opposite ends of a personality spectrum, shaping how each leader handled teammates and pressure.
Scoring, clutch moments and overall impact
When the talk turned to basketball, Howard acknowledged both players’ greatness but drew a line at who scores better. “Scoring‑wise, you gotta go with Kobe Bryant,” he said, even though LeBron now holds the NBA’s all‑time points record. Howard argued that LeBron’s numbers are a product of longevity and his physical advantage that lets him finish at the rim with ease. Kobe, on the other hand, relied on pure skill, footwork and a relentless will to create his own shot.
Impact beyond points? Howard tipped the scales toward LeBron. He highlighted the king’s ability to defend, rebound, facilitate and elevate the whole roster, making him a more rounded contributor over a full season. Yet the conversation took a nostalgic turn when the subject of “clutch” arrived. Howard declared he’d hand the ball to Kobe in the final seconds of a tight game, trusting the late‑night killer instinct that defined Bryant’s career.
These remarks echo a broader dialogue that has been bubbling for years. Fans often pit the two superstars against each other, debating who was the better scorer, defender, or leader. Howard’s comments add a personal flavor because they stem from lived experience, not just stats or highlight reels. He painted a picture of Kobe as the relentless, sometimes abrasive perfectionist who demanded total commitment, while LeBron emerges as the charismatic, relationship‑focused leader who builds goodwill while still delivering elite performance.
Howard’s own tenure with the Lakers shows how those personalities translated into team dynamics. In the Kobe‑era stint, the locker room was reportedly tense, with the veteran star’s demanding nature rubbing some players the wrong way—it even contributed to Howard’s own frustration and eventual trade. In the bubble run, LeBron’s more inclusive approach helped forge a tight‑knit group that thrived under unprecedented circumstances, culminating in a championship that felt like a collective triumph.
Both players left indelible marks on the franchise and the league, but Howard’s anecdotes suggest that the way they carried themselves matters just as much as the numbers they put up. Whether you value a leader who pushes every teammate to the edge or one who keeps the mood light and encourages camaraderie, the choice often reflects personal taste as much as basketball logic.
What’s clear is that the debate isn’t going away anytime soon. As new generations discover the legacies of Kobe and LeBron, players like Howard—who have been on the other side of their leadership—continue to shape the conversation with fresh, behind‑the‑scenes insight.
Written by Rupert Greenlow
View all posts by: Rupert Greenlow