My OperaReport: Howard wants to play in 2016 Games
Saturday, March 2, 2013 12:37:20 AM
Dwight Howard suffered a season-ending back injury in 2011-12 and, as such, missed not only the 2012 playoffs, but also the 2012 Olympic Games so he could recover. Although the back (and a new injury — a sore right shoulder) haven’t had him playing at his peak level this season for the Lakers, Howard forsees a full recovery at some point and has already set his sights on playing for Team USA in the 2016 Games, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com:
Los Angeles Lakers big man Dwight Howard, who won Olympic gold with the U.S. in the 2008 Beijing Games but had to miss last summer’s London Games while recovering from back surgery, said he wants to be back on the team in 2016.
“No doubt,” Howard said Thursday when asked if he wanted to play in Brazil.
Howard will be 30 years old when the next Olympics roll around. He expressed disappointment in not being able to go for back-to-back gold medals this summer, much like Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant was able to do, because of the back surgery he underwent in April.
“I was pissed off,” Howard said. “I was mad I couldn’t play in the playoffs. I was mad I couldn’t play in the Olympics. I was pissed. I was looking forward to going to London. I was looking forward to making a big run in the playoffs last season, so I wasn’t too happy about the fact that I had to have surgery and miss a lot of basketball.”
…
Howard said he has maintained a relationship with USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo.
“He’s cool with me,” Howard said. “He’s always been someone that I’ve thought highly of and he’s always supported me.”
Howard said he received an invitation from Colangelo to play on the 2012 team prior to his back injury.
“He called me and asked me about joining the team in London,” Howard said. “We were looking forward to it. He was one of the first people that contacted me and asked me if I wanted to play. I was very excited about it. I wanted to play. He said, ‘OK.’”
Colangelo will be tasked with not only filling out a roster for Rio de Janeiro, but finding a new coach.
Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN Radio this week that he will not assume his coaching duties with Team USA when his season at Duke ends.
Los Angeles Lakers big man Dwight Howard, who won Olympic gold with the U.S. in the 2008 Beijing Games but had to miss last summer’s London Games while recovering from back surgery, said he wants to be back on the team in 2016.
“No doubt,” Howard said Thursday when asked if he wanted to play in Brazil.
Howard will be 30 years old when the next Olympics roll around. He expressed disappointment in not being able to go for back-to-back gold medals this summer, much like Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant was able to do, because of the back surgery he underwent in April.
“I was pissed off,” Howard said. “I was mad I couldn’t play in the playoffs. I was mad I couldn’t play in the Olympics. I was pissed. I was looking forward to going to London. I was looking forward to making a big run in the playoffs last season, so I wasn’t too happy about the fact that I had to have surgery and miss a lot of basketball.”
…
Howard said he has maintained a relationship with USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo.
“He’s cool with me,” Howard said. “He’s always been someone that I’ve thought highly of and he’s always supported me.”
Howard said he received an invitation from Colangelo to play on the 2012 team prior to his back injury.
“He called me and asked me about joining the team in London,” Howard said. “We were looking forward to it. He was one of the first people that contacted me and asked me if I wanted to play. I was very excited about it. I wanted to play. He said, ‘OK.’”
Colangelo will be tasked with not only filling out a roster for Rio de Janeiro, but finding a new coach.
Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN Radio this week that he will not assume his coaching duties with Team USA when his season at Duke ends.
