The Dwight Howard, Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin McHale bonding sessions are progressing at such heightened levels even the ultra-sensitive Howard seems comfortable with them.
After spending just three days working out with Hall of Fame center Olajuwon, Howard eagerly pronounced "Dream is excited. All he's been talking about is me surpassing him with championship rings and me getting better, and that's great when you have a guy like Hakeem who's one of the best guys to ever play this game, giving you tips and giving you encouragement and not pulling you down."
Olajuwon, who has been hired by the Rockets to help work with the team's big men, won a pair of NBA championship rings with the Rockets in the 90's. And though he has been a seven-time All-Star and three time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Howard readily concedes he has much to learn from him.
"Me and Hakeem have been working out for years," he told reporters. "The biggest thing I try to take from him is just watching the feet. It's not all about the flair and the glare and the move. Just watching his feet and how he does it, certain moves.”
The addition of the ultra-savvy McHale simply seals the deal. "Like Kevin said, it starts with me,” said Howard. “I have to do what I can on both ends of the floor to dominate and that's what I'm working on now, is getting my timing, my speed, my strength and all of that stuff back so I can dominate all year.”
Howard seems to have moved past all the backlash stemming from his decision to bolt from L.A. and Kobe Bryant, and is now using it as added motivation.
"It's a blessing in disguise," he said. "Everybody's been talking down on me about leaving L.A., about being afraid of the spotlight or whatever you want to call it, but I think this is the best place for me and my career right now. I'm very excited.”
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