National Basketball Association

Howard says 'I'm still a champion' despite another ring-less season

Published May. 28, 2015 9:26 a.m. ET

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Dwight Howard's season ended in disappointment yet again. He's been in the NBA for 11 years and has made one trip to The Finals, where his Orlando Magic lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009.

Howard helped the Rockets battle back from a 3-1 deficit against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of this year's playoffs to reach the Western Conference finals. An impressive accomplishment, but it rings somewhat hollow after the Rockets then lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games.

But Howard, despite another year without a ring, is holding his head high.

"It's tough, but I won't stop fighting," Howard said after the Rockets' 104-90 loss Wednesday. "I'm going to continue to push myself to the limit and remember that, no matter how the season ends, I'm still a champion. And I won't let anyone tell me anything different."

Howard's dealt with injuries that cut short his final season in Orlando in 2011-12 and also this past season with the Houston Rockets, proving his toughness and determination but not championship mettle. Howard will turn 30 in December and as the injuries and mileage on his body continue to pile up, one has to wonder if he'll ever have a ring to go along with these latest quotes.