National Basketball Association

Dwight Howard says perceptions about him are 'a lie'

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:58 p.m. ET

foxsports

Dwight Howard is one of the most dominant big men of his era, but there are reasons that he hasn't been well-liked by the sport's more casual fans.

Howard orchestrated an extremely messy exit from Orlando, had a disastrous season in Los Angeles where he clashed with Kobe Bryant, and followed that with three uneventful seasons in Houston that resulted in the Rockets trying to trade him to just about anyone at the deadline before he ultimately bolted in free agency.

Now with the Hawks, Howard is hoping to set the record straight. In an interview with ESPN, Dwight attempted to explain how certain public perceptions about him simply aren't accurate.

"That's one thing I pride myself on is working hard in the weight room, working hard in practice, trying to become a better player. I hated that perception that I didn't work hard, that I really don't love the game," Howard said. "This game has brought me a lot of joy, brought me a lot of good things. Just that side of it has really affected me. I know you can't please everybody; you can't make everybody happy, but just getting that perception that I don't care about this game and what it brings is a lie."

Howard has been perceived as having too much fun in the past, by both the public and his teammates. He believes it's a no-win situation, but perception is reality to a certain extent. Howard has gone public with these sentiments before; the fact that he needs to continue to do so speaks volumes about the reputation that he's built for himself.