Dwight Howard: End of Rockets tenure was 'bad little phase'

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Dwight Howard's offseason interview tour continued Friday, with the former Rockets center opening up somewhat on his three-year stint in Houston.

During an interview on "The Dan Patrick Show," Howard, who signed with his hometown Atlanta Hawks last week, was asked by the host if there was a difference in what Howard was told by Rockets officials regarding his role and how things played out (with him being marginalized in the offense by the end of last season).

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"I was being told a lot of different things and it just didn't happen that way," Howard said. "Everything happens for a reason. I can't go back in the past and get that time back. So for myself, I just have to leave that behind me.

"But it did produce a lot of endurance and patience on my part. I think it was good that it happened because it gave me fire (and) woke something up in me for the next years of my career."

As for how his Rockets tenure ended, Howard called it "a bad little phase."



Click through the gallery to revisit Howard's time in Houston. Dwight Howard (12) says his relationship with ex-Rockets teammate James Harden could've been better during their three years together.

Click through the gallery to revisit Howard's time in Houston. Dwight Howard (12) says his relationship with ex-Rockets teammate James Harden could've been better during their three years together. Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Staff Image 1 of / 81 Caption Close Dwight Howard: End of Rockets tenure was 'bad little phase' 1 / 81 Back to Gallery

"I just think being in the situation where I wasn't involved a lot in what was going on and sometimes as a player, that can affect you when you've been very effective in the NBA," Howard said. "(It went) from that to basically sometimes like you weren't worth too much. I was in a bad little phase, but I'm out of it now and excited about what's about to happen next."

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After expressing displeasure with his limited role in the Rockets' offense during previous interviews, Howard said he was willing to help the Hawks in whatever role necessary.

"I don't think it's about me being featured," Howard said. "I don't even want to think that coming in, that this is my time to do this or do that. I just want to come in and do whatever I have to do to help this team win.

"I know that if I'm in tip-top shape, coming in and playing with total confidence in myself and my game, our team will be great."

Howard also said not playing back-to-back games with the Rockets at times was "something the team wanted," adding that "on my end, I felt great."

Patrick asked Howard if Rockets star James Harden or Kobe Bryant with the Lakers was the tougher teammate to play with, but Howard wouldn't take the bait.

"Both of those guys are great competitors," Howard said. "I just think the timing was off for all of us. You know we were all on different paths in our careers. Kobe was at the tail end and James is on the rise. You know it was just two different types of teams.

"I don't want to stir up anything. I think both of those guys are great players. And you know despite what people say me and Kobe didn't have one of those bad relationships. Like I said, we were in two different parts of our career. And I think a lot of the things that were going on (were) hyped up and people thought it was more than what it really was. Personally, I can never hate any player or hate on any player. You know all of us are blessed to be able to play in the NBA. It's not easy to make it here (and) it's not easy to stay here, you know."

In an interview with ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike" on Thursday, Howard said his relationship with Harden "wasn't as good as it needed to be for us to succeed.

"But, you know, looking back on it, there's really nothing that we can do about it now. Talking about it amongst ourselves is great, but for myself, and I think for the Rockets, we all have to move on and let that chapter of all of our lives pass. I wish the relationship would have been a lot better, but throughout all the things that happened the last couple of years, I think it's shaped and molded me into the player — the person — that I am today. It made me stronger."