Dwight Howard has always been full of surprises — for good and bad, but mostly bad.

Howard is participating in this year’s NBA dunk contest during All-Star weekend, which came as a surprise when it was first announced. He won his last dunk contest in 2008, but whatever. Who’s counting, right?

But, anyway, that’s not the kicker here. The best part of all this is, now, Howard is telling us that he wants Laker legend Kobe Bryant’s help in the dunk contest this year. After the Lakers’ win over the Knicks on Wednesday night, he asked Lakers fans for their help in getting him.

“I’m trying to get Kobe. So if I can get all the Laker fans to lobby to get Kobe to help me in the dunk contest, that’d be really good. That’d be awesome.”

This is absolutely hilarious on a few levels, as Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant had one of the most memorable beefs in NBA history.

Howard came to Bryant’s Lakers in hopes of winning a championship in 2012. Instead, the highlight of their season together was the two of them squaring up over their head coach like a couple of nut jobs.

Embarrassing. I know.

Howard eventually left the Lakers after this year and Bryant, in the most Bryant fashion possible, proceeded to hate his guts. He’s called him everything from “soft” to a “teddy bear,” which was somehow supposed to be a compliment.

Maybe this is Dwight’s way of squashing the beef? No idea. Good luck to him either way, though.

Gallery The 32 best players available in the 2020 NFL Draft, according to the internet View 32 photos

newsletter Get 10 hot stories each day Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation. Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.