Whether or not LeBron James will win the NBA championship this year, but one thing is for sure, he’s not winning it with his former teammate. The Los Angeles Lakers are looking as strong this season but one of their former stars still has it sour with the team’s biggest superstar.
Recently, LeBron’s former Lakers teammate Dwight Howard opened up on his departure from LA with not so sweet memories. On the Above the Rim with DH 12, Howard shared what went between him and James that got him out of Hollywood.
“I said that and got kicked off the Lakers. So, I know how you[Mario Chalmers] feel. You can’t say that. I said that one time, and I was off the team. … It was after we won the championship, man. It happened on defense. I was like, ‘Yo, you gotta get back.’ And [LeBron] got mad because I said something. And I was like, ‘Yo, stop acting like a b—-, man,’” Howard said.
Dwight Howard reveals that he was KICKED OFF the Lakers after he told Lebron James to get back on Defense and “Stop acting like a B*TCH” 💀😭
— Slime🐍 (@ItsKingSlime) March 10, 2025
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Howard, who won an NBA title with the Lakers in 2020, has faced challenges in returning to the league after a season with the Philadelphia 76ers (2020-21) and a brief return to the Lakers. In his last season with L.A., he played a solid bench role, averaging 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in about 16 minutes per game.
Despite his performance, he has not been able to secure an NBA contract since then and has expressed his desire to return through social media. While the former Laker still wants to return to the league, it does not seem like he’ll wear purple and gold again, as per his allegations.
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LeBron James’ Former Heat Teammate Picks Michael Jordan Over Him
On the latest episode of his podcast, Dwight Howard was not the only one beefing up with LeBron James. His former Miami Heat teammate, Mario Chalmers, also tuned in for the discussion around the Lakers superstar.
Chalmers recently weighed in on the ongoing debate over who deserves the title of the greatest basketball player of all time. While both players enjoyed significant success during their time together in Miami, winning back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013, Chalmers believes that Michael Jordan holds the crown.
On Dwight Howard’s podcast, Chalmers explained that while LeBron is an incredibly gifted player, MJ’s fear and respect during his era set him apart in the eyes of those who played against him.
“When you talk to people—guys I played with, guys who played before me—they all say the same thing. With Jordan? It was fear. They called him ‘Black Jesus.’ They called him ‘Black Cat.’ There was a different stigma that came with playing against MJ. That’s just not the same with LeBron,” Chalmers said.
Mario Chalmers says Michael Jordan is the GOAT over LeBron James because more people feared Jordan
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 10, 2025
“When you talk to people—guys I played with, guys who played before me—they all say the same thing. With Jordan? It was fear. They called him ‘Black Jesus.’ They called him ‘Black… pic.twitter.com/W4oHwOR36F
“Don’t get it twisted. LeBron is the best overall player you could want as a superstar. Physically gifted, can do everything on the court,” he said. “But my GOAT? The guy I’d want to live and die within a big moment? That’s Michael Jordan. That’s just me,” he added.
Although Chalmers never had the opportunity to compete against Jordan directly, his experience playing alongside LeBron provided him with deep insight into what makes a player truly great.
Also Read: Stephen Curry’s Under Armour Deal vs. LeBron James’ Nike Contract: Who Wins The Sneaker Battle?
